"Some days, doing 'the best that we can' may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect--on any front--and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else." --Fred Rogers I've been reading a fantastic book called The Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll. One of my main struggles is with legalism. As I've grown older, I've gotten better about extending God's grace to others, but somehow I've left myself out of the bounty. Phil 2:12-13 says, " Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. " What does it mean to "work out" your salvation? It doesn't say that we "work for" our salvation. Salvation is a free gift, but it is a gift that is both instant and progressive. I am saved at the moment that I submit my life to Jesus, but I am also a work in progress. I am joining with God to be made more like Him, however I'm definitely not there yet. That means that some days "I'm doing the best I can" just means that even though I've fallen short, I'm in process. It's not an excuse to not move forward, but it is a place to rest. I'm thankful for that truth.
Monday, March 28, 2011
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5 comments:
OH AMY!! So beautiful...so true and so in line with our blog today..."Keep Moving Forward". I love how God does that. Reinforces through scripture...and other people what we are called to do.
Mr. Roger's hit the nail on the head...even OUR best falls short. His best helps us get closer...when we take His hand. If loving others were just that easy, we would all get along. But WE get in the way of God's work (Daily!).
Praise God for you and this post today! You're loving reminder serves as point practice for me today.
I love how that quote and a few other things I've read go right along w/ what I wrote. I think God may be trying to tell me something!!!
Thank you for this post today, Amy.
I struggle a bit with legalism too, and especially with extending grace to myself. Requiring so much of myself (with too many rules to follow) brings massive amounts of guilt. Then when my legalistic ways expand to affect others, more self-imposed guilt falls on me for not doing "enough."
I love these quotes you shared with us today. And I'm thankful for the rest, peace, and grace found in Christ.
"I'm a work in progress." Oh, how true that is. Some days, I seem to take a step back--or two. And others, I feel as if I've leap ahead. But, no matter what happens, I know that God is right there with me.
This is good for me today. I really needed the reminder.
And I love thinking about what it means to "work out" your salvation. Good thought for me to ponder this week.
Thanks so much for sharing :)
- Kate
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