Marshall Jenkins
Hebrews 13: 9
April 17, 2014
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Belief in salvation by works takes a defensive posture. It asserts that if one eats, worships, socializes, or does anything else by the rules, by the thou-shalt-nots, one can hold up both hands, palms forward and chest high on judgment day and say, “Hey, you can’t touch me. I did nothing wrong.” This is the most pragmatic, natural form of religion. It is based on the cynical assumption that by doing nothing wrong, we do the best we can. If we invented our own religion, it would look like this, and Christians for 2000 years continuously distort Jesus’ religion into this form.
Belief in salvation by grace goes on offense. It asserts that if one eats, worships, socializes, or does anything else for the love of God, one can hold out both hands, palms upward on judgment day and say, “Hey, I don’t know how God did it with a guilty fool like me, but somehow God took my stumbling, confused acts of love and turned it all into a beautiful dance. It sure made some folks mad, but it felt great to be free.” We couldn’t dream this up in two million years. But those who follow this way already live in heaven on earth.
Gracious Lord, give us the courage to risk mistakes for love and the faith to expect you to turn them into something good. Amen
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