So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30 Beloved, you reign in life through Jesus Christ just by receiving two things from Him: the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness (Rom. 5:17). God's way is not about achieving, but about receiving. But many Christians continue to live based on the world's system of achievement. The world's system of success is built on the twin pillars of self-effort and diligence. The world tells you that the more you do, the harder you work, and the more hours you put in, the more success you will achieve.
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30
Beloved, you reign in life through Jesus Christ just by receiving two things from Him: the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness (Rom. 5:17). God's way is not about achieving, but about receiving. But many Christians continue to live based on the world's system of achievement.
The world's system of success is built on the twin pillars of self-effort and diligence. The world tells you that the more you do, the harder you work, and the more hours you put in, the more success you will achieve. The world's way is to nag you to work harder, to forget about attending church on Sundays, to spend less time with your family, and to spend more time in the office working through the nights, weekends, and holidays. I'm sure you've heard that you need to "pay the price," after all, "no pain, no gain," right?
Yet, God's way is not for us to be blessed by our own efforts. You cannot earn God's blessings by your performance. God's blessings are based entirely on His grace. His blessings over your life are undeserved, unearned, and unmerited. In other words, there is nothing you can do to deserve His blessings, for they are based entirely on receiving Jesus, and through His finished work, the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness.
God wants us to stop trying to achieve and to begin receiving the favor, blessings, and healing that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. When He hung on the cross some two thousand years ago, He cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished!" Everything you and I require to reign in life was accomplished at Calvary on our behalf. That's why we call what Jesus did on the cross His "finished work." He finished it. He completed it. It is done!
My friend, the only thing that works is the finished work. So stop trying to do what's already done. Stop doing and start receiving what Jesus has done. Cease all striving and painful laboring to achieve your goals in your own strength and wisdom. Choose instead to see that Jesus has already finished the work. All you need in this life He has already provided for you through the cross. Rest in His unmerited favor and love for you.
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son. (Romans 8:3) I love today's Scripture. The answer, my friend, is found not in the law, but in the Son. The law was given by a servant, Moses; grace came through the Son, Jesus. The grace revolution begins with a person and His name is Jesus. When you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and a revelation of His grace, you have everything. You have, most importantly, a new and righteous identity in Christ.
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 Beloved, the more you grow in your revelation and valuation of how Jesus' finished work has placed you in Him—in the secret place where you are safe, protected, and secure—the more you'll find your heart at rest instead of filled with worry and fears.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands, so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. Psalm 91:11-12 NLT If you look carefully at the Scriptures that Satan used to try to get our Lord Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, you will find that it has nothing to do with endangering yourself to test God's protection. Psalm 91:11–12 is not encouraging you to throw yourself in harm's way. It is saying that as you go about the course of your daily life, "in all your ways" the Lord will protect you. The Hebrew word for "ways" in verse 11 shows this clearly—it is the word derek, which means path, road, or journey.
The Universe is at Your Command
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