“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:3 ESV
Reflect
Drop the act. A huge part of being a follower of Jesus is admitting and accepting that we cannot live a life completely devoted to Christ by mere effort alone. It involves admitting we are not good (Romans 3:10), and we could never do anything apart from Christ that would ever be deemed good or righteous. We are depraved (Romans 3:23); it’s in our nature. We are sinful, corrupt, and desperately need saving. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be the atonement for our sins, and this is the Gospel.
I have done the whole “do more, try harder” Christianity which was filled with a legalistic attitude and empty attempts to be “good” enough for God. I read my Bible, prayed, and tried so hard to not sin in the “big” ways. I felt like I was doing a good job, and my efforts made me feel like I was worth something. I actually idolized my efforts instead of treasuring God and what He has done. It was all about me. I was completely missing the whole point of the Gospel.
The Lord shown light on my sinfulness and legalistic behavior, and He illuminated the worth of His Son to me. The Scriptures tell us it is not about how hard we try or how good we are that makes us a “good” Christian. In fact, we bring God nothing to the table except our weaknesses and sin. God is good, and we are not. Living a life of radical Christianity consists of dropping the act of trying to be good enough; instead, we accept the fact that we aren’t good enough. It isn’t about what we do or don’t do…it is about what Christ has already done. Works cannot save us. Christ slain is what has saved us. When we live a life dedicated to Christ, it is the work of the Holy Spirit which sanctifies us and causes us to be holy. Sisters, we must humbly admit it is by the grace of God and blood shed by Christ that we have been given a new life. Instead of searching for hope within yourself, look to Christ.
Pray
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and many mercies. Thank You for the Gospel and thank You for loving me so unconditionally. Humble me Lord, and teach me to rely on You for sanctification. Help me to live a life of radical Christianity that is faith based not works based. You alone are my righteousness. Amen.
Your Turn
Do you struggle with being “good” enough for God? Meditate on 1 Peter 1:3, and rest in the truth that God is good and we are not; Christ died so that we might live.
