How's That Going For You?

“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 
- John 3:3 NIV

“It’s not about working... it’s about accepting.”

That’s how a conversation continued in the gym a while back...

In what has become an on going discussion with a guy that comes from a different cultural and personal choice background than me, it continued on with him asking about what I read the last time I read the Bible.

After I shared about Nicodemus’ one on one meeting with Jesus, his “how can a man be born again?” question and ultimately Jesus’ answer, I asked my gym buddy about John 3:16 and what that meant to him.

He responded that it was about putting the past behind and moving forward. 

He said, “For me it’s about working. Working to keep my past my past. Working to keep my past from being my present. It’s about working to incorporate these kinds of teachings into my life. Working to be good...”

And he kept on sharing about the work he was doing that really was all about somehow earning God’s favor... and trying to respect Jesus’ teachings.

That’s when I finally interjected, “How’s that going for you? 

I mean, that’s all fine and good... But it’s not about working, it’s about accepting.”

“It’s about repentance and then accepting His grace... His forgiveness... His mercy... Him. Then we do because He did. We do because we want to - not because we have to. We do because He loves us and has done for us. Not to somehow earn forgiveness or grace or His love.”

He then smiled and tilted his head, almost dismissively, and said, “Ya… that’s what I thought you would say.”

May the conversation continue...

“Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues” ~ John Stott

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem