Inadequacy is the key to Humility

it is written:
" For it is by grace you have been saved- through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" - Ephesians 2:8,9

Living in a society where we believe it is only fair to be paid relative to the amount of hours worked, it is no wonder that many individuals fall into the trap of thinking that grace should be earned in the same way. Sure the Jesus constantly reminds us in the bible that our only way to heaven is by obeying his commandments and following him, but how many of us get caught up on focusing on the good deeds? We believe that if we give to the poor, serve at church, and read the bible from cover to cover we will get brownie points for our passage to heaven - not to say that you won't or that good deeds will not be rewarded- but if you take a closer look isn't that what the pharisees did? Although our human brains cannot fully comprehend this concept because our minds are saturated with thoughts of doing big things to reap big rewards, we must start to understand that it is an issue of God's sovereignty that we receive the prize and that our work is meaningless or irrelevant.

"for many are called, few are chosen." (Matt. 22:14)

With everything we have, it would be impossible to pay our ways into the kingdom of heaven. However, when we read Jesus' last words on the cross "it is finished" he proclaims that our lives have been redeemed and "paid in full." I know this has been beaten into our heads ever since we were in Children's Sunday School, but it is not until we fully understand and grasp this concept and humble ourselves that we choose to receive His love.

Therefore, do not live in selfish ambition relying on what you believe is good, but faithfully follow wherever Jesus takes you and trust his word and provisions. Heaven is in your heart.