Romans Chapter 9: Verses 31-32 (NIV Translation)
But the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
Paul’s counsel to the Roman church was to accept that the way to pursue the type of relationship that God intended for us, is to do by believing in Jesus and accepting the gift of redemption He wrought for us, not rushing around doing things for Him.
We too can be guilty of feeling that we need to do good works for God. Good works have a place in our lives as ambassadors and followers of Jesus, and are something we should get involved with where we can, but they are not the way to achieve a relationship with God. Jesus made the way for us and believing in Him is the only way to achieve that closeness.
Just as God didn’t need the Old Testament sacrifices, He doesn’t need our good work. He wants us instead to believe in Him, trust what He says, and do what He asks. That’s not complicated. Most importantly we need to be humble enough to realise that nothing we can do of ourselves, however hard we try can bring us close to God. That’s why Jesus did it for us.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the work of redemption done by Jesus on the cross. It takes the pressure away, because I don’t have to work for my salvation, something I could never achieve. Help me never to take that gift for granted. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.