Nothing to Do

For as long as I can remember, I have been told to do my best.  Try your hardest.  Give it all you have.  It is a pretty common idea.  If you do your best then you can feel good about yourself and the effort you put forward.  And taking this view of life is a good thing.  We all should do the best we can with the gifts and talents God has given each of us.

But how do we find balance?  How do I receive the free gift of grace and not, in turn, try to do something in exchange?  One of the hardest things for me is realizing I cannot do anything to make God love me any more or any less.  The simple fact is - it is all God and none of me.  Yes, it is a very easy idea to explain or say, but my ego doesn’t like it.  

My brokenness and character defects are my problems, right?  Shouldn’t I have something to do with fixing them?  Is it fair for me to dump the weight of my brokenness on someone else?  The answer is - I do play a role in this.  I have one thing to do.  That is to humbly ask for help.  Crying out to Jesus is all we have to do!  And no it isn’t fair for some else to carry my shame, guilt and brokenness but Jesus did it anyway.  (John 3:15-17 sums it nicely!)

In Psalms 51, David, who happens to be the king, as well as, a liar, home-wrecker, and murderer, realizes there is nothing he can do.  There is no sacrifice or offering he can make to fix all he has broken.  But he could humbly approach God and repent.  Ask for forgiveness and beg for grace and mercy.  I have come to realize there is a great deal of freedom in being at the point David was.  When I let go of my ego long enough to allow God to reach down and grab me, that is all it takes.

Because of the cross, and Jesus’ willingness to take my shame and brokenness, I can come boldly to God!  Sometimes it is easy to forget that the tomb is still empty.  We must hang on to Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8, “Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in the 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!”

For some of us, our brokenness has become our identity.  But that is a lie!  In Christ, you are a new creation.  Try it today.  Let go of the lie and embrace the Truth!  Freedom is right in front of you.  His name is Jesus and His grace is never-ending!  If the battle in your mind is getting out of control, take a moment.  Breathe!  You are covered in Christ!