October 14, 2010 - Acts 15:11

"'No. We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.'" Acts 15:11.
Peter reminded his Jewish audience at the council meeting in Jerusalem that they should not put the Gentile believers under the ‘yoke’ of the Law of Moses. Peter stated, of his Jewish brothers' ability to live by the Law, that, "neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear" it themselves, so how could they put such a burden on the Gentiles? No one was able to fulfill God's standards by their own efforts, yet, by the grace of Jesus, all would have access to a relationship with the Father.
Even though I know in my head that I live by the grace of God, I sometimes act as if I find my way to God by my own works. I can tell when I do this by how I get upset at God for the bad things that happen to me. I say things like, "I didn't deserve this!" or "How come this happened to me?!?" or some other such thing. What I'm saying when I do this is that I deserve to be in God's presence because, after all, I'm such a nice guy and look at all the good things I've done! If this were true, Peter's comments are a lie and God's grace through Jesus doesn't exist. But, it does! It truly is by grace that I live. Will I humbly receive it and appreciate God's most incredible gift for me?
Questions to consider: Do you say that you live by grace, yet in some ways, live as if you can find your own way to God? What does that look like for you? What does it take for you to walk by God's grace?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I act as though I can make it to You on my own merits, and thank You for accepting me because of the finished work of Jesus dying on the cross. Amen.