Reading Through The New Testament In 2016. Day 169. Ephesians 2

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

This could quite possibly be the best summary of the gospel in one verse. It is definitely the best news you’ll ever hear.

Why?

For so long I thought following Jesus was about trying harder. Try harder to be a good person. Try harder to do the right thing.

That left me tired — no, it left me exhausted. Especially because I was failing at it. I wasn’t being as good a person as I wanted to be and was far from being a person that looked like Jesus.

That’s because trying wasn’t the point.

Receiving was and is.

Oepening myself the the grace of God and the gift of His spirit. It’s the fullness of grace that enables me to live like Jesus. When I’m full of his grace I can overflow and give it to the world.

Trying harder doesn’t come from a place of fullness. It’s not about receiving. It’s just about… well, trying.

So, let’s not ask how we’re trying harder to live like Jesus. That’s not a good questions. Let’s ask how, today, we are going to open wider to the grace of Christ. How are we creating space to receive this gift from God? How do we make ourselves more aware of what Christ has done for us?

May you find the space you need to receive from God today.