Not impressed

Ever notice people who are affluent are not impressed by other people with money. God is the most affluent person in the world; He's not impressed by Mr. Gates, Mr. Warren, or Mr King or Queen. In context, when I do my best, bring my best to the table, doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Grace is a gift, can't be earned or bought.

Ephesians 2:8 (The Message)

7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.


As a Christ follower, only when I'm connected to the source, any branch sprouting off a vine doesn't have to struggle to grow, or work to produce fruit. It gains its strength from its life source: The Vine. In the same way, when we make God our life source, we don't have to measure up to a list of criteria in order to be a "good Christian." Our lives will bear good fruit when we are simply connected to Jesus.

Thankfully, there is nothing we can do to make God love us more. Our striving doesn't impress him, and merely leaves us worn out. But when we connect with Jesus daily in prayer, and feed on his Word, we receive the power to live the life we've always wanted. That ruffles the feathers of 99% of the religions out there.