Iron Sharpens Iron

After discussing religion versus relationship in devos tonight, I think I had an epiphany. Religion is trying to reach God on one's own; relationship is letting the Lord reach the person. We release control, stop trying to do everything ourselves, stop trying to rectify our brokenness. Because we broke the relationship back in Eden, we're trying to reconcile it ourselves. We broke it, so we want to correct it.

But we can't. When we broke it, we were conscious of our decision, perfect up until that instant. Now we're imperfect, unable to reach Papa ourselves because we constantly screw up, despite our actions and good intentions.

We can't do good just because we think it'll score us brownie points with the Creator. We do good because, well, because that's who we're meant to be, meant to glorify Christ because we have been saved, made perfect once again.

But our good deeds weren't what made Jesus say, "You know, they deserve to be saved. Ok, you're a good kid, so I will die for you." If we were so good, we wouldn't need retribution. We do good deeds because He did the ultimate good deed, the most pure, altruistic deed. After we betrayed Him, He shed His blood when we whipped him, took our insults, took our cackling and mockery as He died in sheer agony. He took the spear through the side, took the nails we drove into His hands and feet, sneering because we thought we were doing a good deed. We thought we were preserving peace, using social justice.

But we were wrong--again. Surprise, surprise. Luckily, we were wrong to think He'd just stay dead. Instead He forgave us, welcomed us home, and gave us His Spirit to do good deeds. But these deeds are immeasurable; they don't give us more grace, more mercy, more forgiveness, more "good karma" to store up so we can do something heinous and evil.

His Spirit inspires us to do good for good's sake--intrinsic motivation. Because He did good first, He loved first, He died first. We want to follow that example because He did those things to and for us first. Now we want to make everyone else feel this inexplicable joy, overwhelming love, and passion for the adventure.

Do it to it.