The more I learn about God, the more I realize that it is our active participation that keeps His plan moving. We are the gears and wheels and engine of the vehicle He designed. As long as we continue to function the way the Engineer intended, the vehicle works perfectly. And like a car that needs maintenance, when some of the parts aren’t working right, the car can still function, it just may not be quite as efficient.
This morning during my devotions, I came across this verse in Romans:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
As often happens, I’ve known this verse for a long time, but today I specifically noticed the end of verse 1. Grace is not something that is handed to us. It is freely given, but we have to do something to receive it. Faith unlocks the door, Christ opens it, but we have to step into it. This doesn’t mean we have to earn grace–that’s impossible. It just means that unless we claim the gift, it will stand empty and out of our reach.
Let me never forget that I cannot spend my life just praying and hoping and waiting for God to change me. He will, but it’s going to take work on my part to make it possible. It’s my obedience and the work that I do that activates the promises and starts them working in me.
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