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My
Way Or The Highway!
Doesn't
it feel great to accomplish something all on your own! You love that feeling
of having done something your way, without the help of anyone else. Standing
back to admire the work of your hands--that thing that's cost your blood,
sweat, and tears--fills you with immense pride and satisfaction.
When it's a "thing" that you've
made, then this is a good, God-ordained experience. God created and so
He imparts in you a need and desire to create as well.
But, when the area of accomplishment
is the honing of a character quality, the teaching of a spiritual truth
to our children, or the acting out of a spousal duty, we must beware of
claiming credit.
We often try to express our salvation
and sense of worth by doing stuff. We love to think we can boast in our
works, whether it's a word of wisdom or an act of intended kindness. But
our salvation does not depend upon the quality of our deeds. The quality
of our deeds does, however, depend upon our salvation. Our salvation--our
standing before God--comes through the given grace of God. There's nothing
for us to boast about.
But for the grace of God we are
Neanderthals in our behavior, in our caring, in our concern for others.
If what you do is given well and received well, give thanks to the Father
who has enabled you to do well in His grace.
For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
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