Skip to main content

What must we do to be saved?

Then they asked him, "what must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "the work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  John 6:28.

Always trying to figure out a way to be saved.  We never believe that we can get all the benefits of God by just believing.  There must be something more.  What do we have to do? We ask.  Where does God want us to go? What does God want us to accomplish for Him?  How can I put myself in position to receive His goodness?  What do I need to change? What am I doing wrong?  All very good questions for a time of self-reflecting and to ensure we are leading progressive and productive lives.  Yet, they are not what's needed to do the work God has for us to do.

It isn't that God does not have work for us to do, because He does.  "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10.  Often times, we are unsure of how we are going to accomplish the things God has in store for us.  We tell God, "That's too much for me to handle."  We feel  a prompting in our spirit to do a kind deed or speak a gentle word to a stranger and we freeze up.  We question, Lord, is that what you're asking me to do?  Perhaps we feel we don't have the right personality type for ministry.  We lack in an area where God may be asking us to step up.

My friends, there is nothing more that we need to do.  We are in the best shape of our lives right here today.  We are designed with our destinies in mind and fitted with the right stuff to accomplish what God created us to accomplish.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made, each of us.  The requirement is much simpler than any of us are willing to accept.  We have been told that nothing will come to us without hard work; no pain no gain; or only through blood, sweat and tears.  Even when someone wants to give us something, we are skeptical.  We wonder if this gift comes with strings attached.
Nobody gets something for nothing.

With all the non-sense we are told, I can understand why we hesitate to receive the free gift in Jesus Christ that God has strategically ordered to give us.  In His Sovereignty, God designed a master plan to grant us complete reconciliation to Himself - no strings attached.  And what could you do for the creater of the universe?  What do you give one who owns everything?  I tell you the truth, you can give Him your faith.  You can trust God and it pleases Him that you do.  You can believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and it delights Him and puts a smile on His face.   God has asked that in all that we do for Him, the one thing that is a must, not a maybe, is to "believe in the one he has sent."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Woe to the Complacent

Amos 6:1-7 is a call to action for the blessed, full, contented individuals of the time.  During this time there were some who lived incredibly rich and abundant lives, while others were extremely poor.  Kind of like today, isn't it?  The Lord said, there will always be the poor among us.  Knowing that, I'm not sure he was looking to fix the economic imbalance, but more so fix our internal dispositions.  The Lord desires us to take care of one another.  He desires the fortunate to consider the unfortunate.  He desires the haves to look after the have nots.  He is pleased when the wealthy take care of the poor. The thought behind it is simple.  If you can, you should.  Giving keeps us from becoming greedy, insatiable people.  I often find myself saying "But I barely have..." and the Lord corrects me.  "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25. My pastor, Josh Teis, in his...

All that I need, I already have

  So, what are the things that are necessary?   Because I refuse to do busy work.   Many have fallen prey to the belief that as long as I’m busy doing things, I’m actually getting things done.   Not true.   And painfully so because most of us live on the brink of exhaustion.   To think that more than half the things we spend time doing is a waste of time and getting us no closer to our goals is heart wrenching.   My sleep is so sweet when I hit my pillow because I feel like I’ve done well, the things God has desired me to do.   And when I was a poor steward of my time, I toss and turn with a to-do list in my mind of things I still need to do. I pray, “Lord, turn my eyes away from worthless things and preserve my life according to your Word.” Psalm 119:37. Why?   Because it’s so easy to lose hours on social media, reality tv, daydreaming, starting and quitting projects before they’re completed, etc.   Anything can be busy work. ...

How do you know if you’ve settled?

This one is easy.   Passion, fire, drive, intensity, gratification, pleasure, satisfaction:   if you rarely hear, see, use or feel these words (or synonyms) – you’ve settled.   Do you know what it means to settle?   Do you understand all that the act implies, including its ramifications?   Let me enlighten you and show you a little tough love. Settling programs your mind to accept less than the best, to desire for fewer things and ultimately to deteriorate your personal value and worth.    By settling, you are telling yourself that you are not worth what you desire, so instead you will take what is available or left over.      Do not be mislead, there are a number of ways you could be settling and receiving less than the best.   Anytime you deny yourself pleasures you are settling.   Choosing a job that’s available instead of a career that’s desirable is settling.   Staying in a relationship that’s average at best, inst...