So Much Effort, So Much Force

Many of us believe that everything depends on us.

Even our relationship with God Almighty.

No, He came to us, He loved us, He died for us, and today He lives for us.

It's not about us. It's all about Him.

There is no such as "a conception of God", despite the heaviest pleadings of AA enthusiasts.

It's not about our choosing God, but rather He is chosen us:

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15: 16)

and

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8)

and also

"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1: 3)

and then

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2 Thessalonians 2: 13)

Where is our effort? Where is our participation? Where does the argument come from that we need to add our force and effort?

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." (Romans 3: 27)

and

"5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 5-8)

By grace we are saved, not by works. By His grace we are taken from death to life, not our efforts, not our force, not our works.

Where do we get this idea that our efforts and force are needed?

From the world, the spirit of the air, the spirit of the Enemy which wants us to earn what can only be inherited. Oh, the world is full of this awful spirit, and many church people have given heed to it.

Not me, not today, and not anymore.

Thank you, Jesus, for your incomprehensible gift, which you keep on giving:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2 Timothy 1: 9)