While looking through the newspaper flyers, I noticed that one of my favourite stores had oil filters and grinding wheels on sale.聽Needing both, I went and purchased them.聽On the way out of the store, I looked at the bill which said, 鈥淭otal: $20.45鈥� and, happily, 鈥淭oday you saved: $41.33鈥�.
I love that 鈥淭oday you saved鈥� line!聽It always makes me feel good to see a big number there.聽Everyone likes getting more than they paid for which, of course, is why the store includes that line on the bill in the first place.聽Everyone likes bargains!
That being the case, here is an even better offer for you:聽鈥淗e [God] saved us and called us to a holy life鈥攏ot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel鈥� (1 Timothy 1:9-10).
I love the line that says that we are saved and made holy 鈥渘ot because of anything we have done鈥� but because of God鈥檚 grace.聽聽
Over the years, lots of people have told me that they will come to church as soon as they get their life sorted out.聽That is completely backward, and it will never work!聽The church does not exist for those who think they are good and have everything figured out.聽Rather, church is for those who realize that they cannot sort things out and, therefore, need help.聽Faith is not about our ability or goodness.聽Instead, it is based on God鈥檚 grace and kindness.聽He does for us what we cannot ever do for ourselves.
Our goodness is never good enough.聽In fact, if we try to make it by our own strength, we will always fall short.聽However, the good news is that God offers us a new beginning and a new life.聽聽
There is no better deal than that!
