EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

TO PONDER

I read an interesting series of articles recently that were pointing out some hard truths about the church in modern society.

This series of essays suggested that a large contributing factor for the decline in church attendance over recent years, and one that is rarely ever talked about, is the reality that for a long period of time, church attendance, or at least some kind of religious observance, is what marked you as a decent member of society. That for generations, the social expectation was that you went to church on Sundays, listened to the sermon, said prayers at meal times, gave generously to the church and perhaps to other charitable foundations, and that these 'visible' performances were what made you respectable in your community.

As society shifted in it's requirements and 'attendance at church' ceased to be such a recognised marker of 'goodness' or became something of an optional extra, rather than a central requirement, many people opted to step away. It's almost as if many people were attending church for the exact reasons that Ephesians chapter 2 critiques.

Being a Christian, was never supposed to be about performing certain religious observances. Jesus, and also Paul here in Ephesians, reminds us that it was and is always about what god has done for us. I think you see the effects of forgetting this in modern day global and domestic politics. Those in power seem to be under the impression that they have to continually boast about the good things their party have achieved while in government in order to stay in government. This is unfortunately how much of this world operates. However, If we live our lives "in Christ" the same way, then we don't really understand what living in grace is all about.

Grace is not about performing, or boasting, or earning. While everyone around us might be busy earning or boasting about what they have done, Jesus invites us to rest in the victory he has already won for us. In Christ - in His Grace - there is rest from striving, and performance base salary and an invitation to rest and just be. So why not give that a try today and see if you can rest from your striving and boasting just for a bit, and let the grace of Jesus Christ be the place that you live your life from today?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that in your death and resurrection there is life and forgiveness for those who place their trust in you. Please help me to remember that the main goal of my faith is not to boast about my goodness to others, but rather that others may see your goodness as I live out of your gracious love and mercy. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle