Jesus told a parable about some workers who turned up during the last hour of the working day and got paid as much as – those who worked the whole day (Matthew 20). He told this story to illustrate grace. This is what God loves to do. He loves to give good things to people who don’t deserve it. Paul was a messenger of grace and he embodied it. He was more like a worker who turned up at the worksite, smashed up everything in sight, and then still got paid the same wages as the other workers. He was forgiven much, and that experience of grace compelled him to throw aside a religion of striving and legalism to simply love and serve God. A lot of people don’t expect much from God because they think their lives don’t warrant much from him. They look at their own lack of spiritual engagement and consistency and they think that God isn’t so interested in them. We live in a world that celebrates human achievement and honours those who gain a lot through their efforts or personal attributes. So, we are prone to feel that God counts our achievements in mission and the spiritual disciplines and rewards those who achieve the most. But God loves to give grace, and grace is undeserved favour. There is nothing to achieve but live in Christ’s achievement. Don’t live for God’s acceptance. Live from God’s acceptance. You have it in Christ. God’s favour is not something you can get to. It is something you must begin with. Without it you won’t get anywhere.
Ask God to lead you into the fullness of the life he wants for you.
Read 1 Timothy 1:12-20
