WHAT IS YOUR "WORKS" ETHIC?
- Key Verse
- For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
Salvation is available to anyone by receiving it through faith as God's free gift.
Reflections
This life is a lot of work, and we learn early that a strong work ethic will lead to success. In school we strive to complete assignments, pass tests, and make grades to reach an academic standard the school has set. Later in life, we usually get a job (whether inside or outside the home) and work more. It's a lot of effort and pressure. Add in God's standard, which is perfection, and it's quite daunting.
Now imagine if you woke up one day and someone said, "Don't worry. You don't need to work today. It's all taken care of. Just rest." After being hardwired to strive and work hard, an offer like that might not even compute.
In Romans 10, Paul is deeply concerned because even though the Jewish people had a zeal for God they did not understand His righteousness. They were still trying to gain God's favor through their actions and moral living (a works-based approach) rather than through faith. "[T]hat if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
And 2,000 years later, we are still struggling with salvation as a free gift. Often, people go to church, talk church talk and do church things in order to be in good standing with God. But Scripture tells us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
No work is involved for our salvation. Just faith.
I am someone who has accepted this free gift from God, but I find myself working hard just like the people in this passage to meet my personal standard, the culture's standard, and God's standard. It is futile. My prayer is, "Lord, today help me to rest in the fact the work has already been done."
Discussion Questions
1. Have you considered the free gift of God's salvation that is available to you? If not, what is your next step in considering this gift?2. If you have accepted this gift, what are some ways you find yourself still striving to be acceptable to God?
3. What can you do today to be the "feet of those who bring good news of good things" (Romans 10:15)?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
Romans 8-12 (June 4-9)
Read Romans 12:1-8.
* What does it mean to be a living sacrifice to God?
* How does this show your worship of Him?
* In what ways are you tempted to copy the "patterns of this world"?
* What does it mean to let God transform (change) the way you think? (Read as a family 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Galatians 5:22-26.)
* The Scripture says we all have something that is useful for the church body, what is that "something" in your life?
* Do you know what your gifts and abilities are?
* How can you use these to bring glory to God?
Activity: Get two pieces of blank paper for every person. On the first piece of paper, draw the earth. Within the earth, write or draw the things that represent the "patterns of this world" (examples: being all about money, popularity, success, grades, wearing inappropriate clothes to be "cool," etc.).
On the second piece of paper, draw a bowl of fruit and write all the ways you can be transformed by God changing you.
Elaine Word
June 6, 2012 07:06 AM
Good (Work), Kristin! No, seriously, you are right about our "work" ethic. Are we serving to be acceptable to God, and therefore merit salvation, or are we working because we have been made acceptable to God through Christ, and have been given the gift of salvation? I was born into a Religion that was "works based", without the belief of "Eternal security", and believing we had to do enough "Good Works" here on earth, (impossible)or suffer for our sins after death until we paid for them. Your reference to Eph 2:8-9 in Scripture made all the difference in the world to me. Every precious word in that verse brings so much joy and hope to my soul, for I no longer have to merit salvation (which is useless anyhow) I have the GIFT of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the work of Calvary... praise God! But now that I have peace with God and have the "gift" of salvation through faith, I commit my work "ethic" to Him, for I serve Him BECAUSE I love Him, and BECAUSE He has called the redeemed to serve. Yes, Go out, bring in, feed the hungry, heal the sick, give to the poor, etc. Jesus had a strong "Work Ethic", and He taught His disciples to follow Him. And we know Jesus didn't WORK in order to be SAVED. Thanks, Kristen, we always need to remember what Christ did for us.
Greg Prouse
June 6, 2012 07:23 AM
Great reminder, Hun! Thanks for this today (and also thanks for all your hard work at the homestead!!!) :)
Lee Danis
June 6, 2012 08:35 AM
Kristin, love the "domestic engineer". When filling out forms asking for Susan's occupation, that's what I would put in. I always wanted to add that "you have no idea how precious and difficult a job she has." I enjoyed your uplifting devotional.
Rob Borrego
June 6, 2012 09:41 AM
Encouraged by your devotional this morning! Such foundational truth ... yet so easy to forget. Great to see your smiling face!
Jay Smith
June 6, 2012 10:02 AM
Well said!
Reggie
June 6, 2012 03:27 PM
Kristin- Thank you for your "grace based" devotional. It was a great reminder that we cannot work our way to God's acceptance or forgiveness.
Sue Bohlin
June 6, 2012 04:05 PM
Thanks for the clarion call of truth, Kristin! What grabbed me was at the end of the chapter, where Paul quotes Isaiah: "I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me." I was taken back to February 12, 1973, when I woke up that morning as lost and dead in my sins as I could be, and went to sleep that night a new creation, the newest member of God's family. I certainly wasn't looking for Him--He sought ME out. He sent Andre Kole, an illusionist with Campus Crusade for Christ, to the University of Illinois to find me. He sent my classmate Scott to the Quad to hand out flyers. He sent the Holy Spirit to tug at my heart all day long until I bought a ticket to that night's performance, money which He provided. He sent an IlliBus to take me to the Assembly Hall. He revealed Himself to me through a clear gospel presentation, and opened my ears to hear Him calling to me. He did it all--my part was like waking up from sleep. Thank You Lord!
Cindy Wright
June 6, 2012 04:09 PM
Thank you for your encouragement. I, too, struggle with the idea of working to please God. So often my mind just doesn't match what my heart knows! This is a great reminder.
Angela
June 6, 2012 07:20 PM
Dear Kristin, Thank you for your words today. I so often need the reminder that all I "do" is in response to God rather than to receive something from Him. Thanks not only for your words but for the application of this truth that I saw in you so clearly in our Equipped Disciple group!
Jennifer
June 6, 2012 10:58 PM
Great word Kristin! I, like you, have had the privilege of being a "Reasearch Associate in the field of Childhood Developement!" for 15 years. lol