HEAVENSREEF

It’s useless these spiritual resumé’s we make.  They won’t redeem us or get us into Heaven either.  But oh, we do make them.  No amount of quiet time, volunteering, Church attendance, or small group participation will get us near those pearly gates.  And do we build our spiritual lists to get other’s attentions or even GOD’S favor?  

OUR ELDER-LIKE PRIDE AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS CAN SURE GET IN OUR WAY.

We come to think of ourselves by this list…….it can be defining.  It shows we are a “good Christian” doing all the right things GOD wants from us……..see my resume’?  And look at how long it’s become!  Ugh.

And somehow we think we are deserving of GOD’S favor instead of being humbled and repentant.  Do we think the more we do the more favor we will receive?  Are we humble enough to admit just for the moment that all we have done, that list we have made is all for……….nothing?

ISAIAH 64: 6   “ALL OF US HAVE BECOME LIKE ONE WHO IS UNCLEAN AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS.”

Kinda says it all! There is nothing we can do to make us right or to impress our FATHER.  Because everything here, everything we do or say is all about JESUS and HIS grace and glory.

Today I’m telling myself stop…….stop with the internal spiritual list.  Let’s stop telling others what we have done for GOD.  HE knows anyway because HE sees all.  

MATTHEW 6: 1   “BEWARE OF PRACTICING YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE OTHER PEOPLE IN ORDER TO BE SEEN BY THEM, FOR THEN YOU WILL HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”

I’m not saying stop serving the LORD, just stop checking off the boxes, stop making a  list that will puff you up and cause pride to grow.  None of us are worthy, but GOD and HIS grace came for us and we are HIS children.  Our sin equals HIS amazing grace for us.  PERIOD.  It’s all grace my friends.  So let that truth alone, set you free today.  Get free from your list.  And why?  Because GOD showed HIS great love for us that:

ROMANS 5:8  “WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.”

PUT HIS AMAZING GRACE AND GLORY ON A SHORT LIST

Tear up that spiritual resume’ list today and just replace it with a few words:

GOD………GRACE…….GLORY…….LOVE……..FORGIVEN

CHRIST’S death and resurrection wiped the slate clean for us.  There is nothing we can ever do.

ISAIAH 1: 18   “COME NOW, LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAYS THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS ARE LIKE SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW.”

JESUS DIED……..for that spiritual resume’ we all seem to make up.  So let’s pitch it today and erase it from our one-track minds.  Because when we get to Heaven, JESUS won’t care about all you have done.  HE won’t ask to see your list.   But HE will care about your sweet and tender heart and whether your love and devotion was all about HIM and for HIM.

PSALM 51: 4   “AGAINST YOU, YOU ONLY, HAVE I SINNED AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT…….”