“I have a neighbor who’s not a Christian,” Stan mentioned one morning during breakfast. “I’ve been trying for a long time to bring him to the truth, and there was a breakthrough the other day.”
“That’s great,” I replied. “What happened?”
“When I was telling him again about what Jesus accomplished for all of us by His finished work on the cross,” Stan said, “this guy interrupted me and said something about that I must really be trying to work my way to heaven.”
“Work your way to heaven?”
“Yeah,’ Stan replied. “He went on to say something about how I was constantly talking about Jesus and it must be to please God so He’ll let me into heaven.”
“How’d you respond to that?”
“With the truth,” Stan replied with a smile. “I told him that there’s no way for people to work their way to heaven, but for those who have accepted God’s free and gracious gift of salvation, they are to work out that salvation by being and doing whatever God has for them to be and to do for Him and His kingdom.”
“What’d your neighbor say to that?”
“That he had never heard that. He asked me about the ‘free and gracious gift’ I had mentioned. I told him more about how we can’t work our way into God’s favor, but that if we’re going to have salvation we have to receive it as God’s gift.”
“So,” I replied, “do you think that might make a difference with your neighbor?”
“I think it already has,” Stan said with a smile. “He told me he better understands that what I and other Christians do is not to get salvation; it’s because we have it!”
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Bible verses to consider:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not the result of works, that no one should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your free and gracious gift of life eternally with you through the finished work of Jesus’ cross, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those who told me of your provision of salvation so I could receive it and work out that salvation by being and doing what you intend. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity, I don’t do anything for you and your kingdom. Please forgive that foolish way of living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead so my faith is not dead, but is filled with works for you and your kingdom. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you have salvation to work out because you have accepted and received God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with working out that salvation for God and His kingdom? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know that you need both for salvation and for woking out that salvation? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to being part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?