No Sweat

We all have a lot of work to get done, and some of it is hard, sweat producing work. I love physical labor. Whenever I get the opportunity to work on a physical project, I take it. I get the satisfaction of working with my hands, and at the end of a physical project there are physical results that can be measured. Although labor is good, when it comes to our relationship with God, it is not what He has asked for.

When it comes to relating to God, it should be a "no sweat" deal. Sweat represents the by-product of physical attempts to get to God, and that is not what God requires. When Adam and Eve chose to eat of the forbidden fruit they suffered the consequence of sin. This consequence is what separates us from God, and only through Jesus' completed work on the cross can we be re-connected...no sweat on our part required. This is grace. In Paul's letter to the church in Corinth he explained this truth to them:

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

We must be righteous to get to God, and we are made righteous by no work of our own, and we find our righteous place in Christ - no sweat.

In His grip,

Pastor Pat