Randy Wray’s Blog

Some thoughts today from Think Like Jesus by George Barna:

We Americans live in the land of cheap grace; we gladly accept peace with God through Jesus’ death and resurrection, but we assume no responsibility for change because we argue that we did not agree to that requirement beforehand and would find alternative route to God’s palace anyway. So deep-rooted is our denial of reality — even among those of us who are blessed enough to know Jesus as a personal Savior — that we fail to recognize that His terrible death on that splintered wooden cross was not our gateway to Spiritual Easy Street.

If we are determined to live for God’s purposes and glory rather than our own we must experience personal brokenness over our history and inclination to sin. We must wholly abandon ourselves to God. In practical terms, that means giving up our agendas, our dreams, and our plans in order to listen for His quiet voice that leads us toward a very different and unworldly future.

It may not be a future of voluntary poverty like Mother Teresa or devotion to preaching the gospel ?° la Billy Graham. But that small voice that whispers so urgently to you in the clutter of the daily cacophony will lead you to transform every thought, word, and action in ways that would not otherwise be possible or plausible.

The outcome — greater godliness, more consistent holiness, ever-developing selflessness — is the result of someone who understands the ravages of sin, the burden of guilt, the freedom of God’s grace, the joy of peace with God, and the reformation of a renewed heart and mind.

Good stuff. Grace and peace be with you all, today.