Fruitless Addition

Jesus + nothing = salvation.

Do you believe this?

Can you allow yourself to believe it?

I forget frequently.

I think:

Jesus + obedient children = salvation

Jesus + traditional sauerkraut = salvation

Jesus + a clean house = salvation

Jesus + eradication of this sin = salvation

Anyone know what I mean?

As a mother, wife, woman, and human, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my own inadequacy. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my own awesomeness as well...different sides of the same coin.

Three separate times this week, the Lord has reminded me that I bring nothing to the table. Try as I might, I am not good enough. Thank God. It would be a pretty poor offering. Additionally, I am not bad enough either. I can neither earn nor dis-earn my salvation.

Wow. What a relief.

No one can.

Good news: Christ already did it for me. He was tempted in every way I am, yet He never sinned. Where I yell, He is patient. Where I am bitter, He is loving. Where I fall short, He is victorious.

And therefore, I am victorious.

God is able to see the veil of Christ's perfection covering the ugliness of my shortcomings. To meditate on that, instead of ME, is so freeing.

Are you feeling similarly? Is there some area of your life that you can't control, try as you might?

Let it go. You will never be perfect. But there is One who was, is, and will be. And all you have to do is trust Him to do what He says He will do.

Jesus + nothing = salvation.

Whew.