I’ve “done church” my entire life. Name a Sunday morning, Wednesday night, or mid-week volunteer opportunity, and I was there. I was a straight-A student determined to earn straight-As with God. And I was doing that the only way I knew how—through perfect attendance, doing my homework, and taking advantage of every opportunity for extra credit.
After years of hard work, I came to realize that no matter how often or how well I “did church,” I still didn’t have the abundant life God promised to those who walk with Him. I was filling my days with good things in an attempt to earn grace.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that the very definition of grace necessitates that it can’t be earned. When I took a long, hard look at my walk with God, I realized I had made it so much more about the drudgery of doing good things rather than the freedom of being a new creation in Christ.
God has always planned for us to experience so much more than our limited minds could grasp. If a life of religious duty that leads to a timeless existence with a distant Deity seems unfulfilling, that’s because it was never what God intended.
In God’s original design, there were unity and order in all of God’s creation. After the fall, everything was ripped apart. Shame entered the picture, and along with it came fear, pain, and a desire to do life on our own. We are too ashamed to accept God’s free gift, so we toil in an attempt to win His approval.
The life God wants for us is not what we think. It’s not doing more and more in an attempt to repay God for His gift. It’s not being tied down to rules and regulations and impossible standards to remain in God’s good graces. It’s not about trying harder and harder to earn a straight-A Religion Report Card.
So often, the Christian life we’re meant for is not what we think.
The Christian life isn’t about escaping this world to get into the next; it’s about experiencing God’s kingdom coming and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Yes, the gospel promises eternal life, but it starts now, not after we die.
We don’t have to wait to experience the abundant life available in Jesus.
It’s Not What You Think is a 6-session Bible study that pulls the original context of key biblical themes into our current understanding to unlock an exciting reality—one that isn’t new, just forgotten. With his signature style of passion and honesty, Jefferson Bethke invites you to join him on this journey into the overlapping space between heaven and earth.
Today we’re giving away 5 copies of It’s Not What You Think Bible Study Books! To enter, simply fill out the form below.
By entering today’s giveaway, you acknowledge Lifeway Christian Resources’ official promotion rules. Today’s giveaway starts at the posting time of this blog and ends Monday (10/05/2015) at noon (12:00 pm) CST. You must be 18 to enter, and you may only enter once. The winner will be selected at random. Only participants who live in the United States or Canada are eligible to win. For questions about the rules and regulations of this giveaway, please contact Heather Warfield at One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-140.
