“and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.””I Corinthians 11:24 NKJV
The message of Gods grace and unearned favour for us has changed my life and I know many people can testify how it has changed theirs. Through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we are no longer under the law mentality of "do good - get good, do bad - get bad". God loves us and wants to bless us because of Jesus in our life, not because of our own efforts.
So does that mean we have nothing to do then? Well, a quick Google search reveals that there are over 1000 instructions for Christians in the New Testament! If we are free through Jesus work, why are there still so many instructions for walking the Christian life? Why do we need to "do" anything? Can't I live anyway I want knowing I'm covered by Jesus blood?
Well, we could, and God's love for us will not change. That's amazing grace! But if we want to operate in God's kingdom and see His blessings fully operational in our lives, we may need to position ourselves better to receive from Him. In today's verse for example, Jesus tells us that we need to "do this" to remind ourselves of His sacrifice and to help us receive all he has accomplished for us at the cross. The instructions for us in the New Testament are there so we will walk closer to Jesus and experience victory in all areas of life. Like any good father, He only wants to see His children enjoy life to the fullest, living in such overflow that they can bless others and become a living testament.
Gods grace was never intended to be a licence to live our life separate from Him. Let's live up to the calling on our lives, trust his guidance, and see our lives thrive in 2017.