A Life Worthy

Boast One-a-Day Wednesday 11/6/24

Posted on November 6, 2024 by michaelNovember 6, 2024

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:9).

Because we would.

Boast, that is.

I mean, I have been known to open a jar for my wife and then claim credit for “making dinner.”

When we apply that concept to our spiritual life, we find that it’s a very small step from, “GOD + me” to works-based religiosity, name-it-claim-it theology, self image issues, legalism, and Towers of Babel in your backyard.

No, those aren’t cell phone towers.

Anyway, God, in his infinite wisdom, made it very clear that our salvation is absolutely NOT up to us.

That’s freeing…aaaand a little frustrating,

and perfectly, thoroughly as it should be.

It’s for you, Beloved, but it’s not up to you.

Happy Wednesday

Never Enough One-a-Day Tuesday 11/5/24

Posted on November 5, 2024 by michaelNovember 5, 2024

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works… (Ephesians 2:9)

How high can you jump?

You know, just jump straight up into the air?

One foot? Two?

If you want to measure, I’ll wait…

…

By the way, if you took video footage of that, please send it to me.

Obviously, some of us can jump higher than others. Age, strength, injuries all factor in. If you train hard and get the right shoes, you can increase your vertical leap. A professional basketball player can get above three feet–Wilt Chamberlain was able to jump four feet straight up.

Now, imagine that God’s requirement for eternal life was a vertical leap

one

thousand

feet.

It would make the whole trying-to-earn-it-on-your-own business seem pretty silly, wouldn’t it?

Hmm…

Walk in grace today, Beloved. It’s easier on the ankles.

Happy Tuesday

Gift One-a-Day Monday 11/4/24

Posted on November 4, 2024 by michaelNovember 4, 2024

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– (Ephesians 2:8).

Think of the best gift you have ever received.

Seriously…stop for a moment and think about it.

Consider the joy it gave you to open that package and see that what you had wished for and dreamed about and maybe imagined but never thought you would really have was really yours.

Grace is like that–only eversomuch more so.

Think of the best gift you have ever given.

Seriously…stop for a moment and think about it.

Consider the joy it gave you to watch one you love open that package and to see their face light up as they realized that what they had wished for and dreamed about and maybe imagined but never thought they would really have was really theirs.

Because of you.

Giving grace is like that for God–only eversomuch more so.

Open the gift, Beloved. Everyone wins.

Happy Monday

By Grace Friday 11/1/24

Posted on November 1, 2024 by michaelNovember 1, 2024

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves…(Ephesians 2:8).

I teach middle school.

You’re welcome.

Anyway, one of the adorably nightmarish traits of middle-schoolers is that they have a mind like a steel sieve. I mean, I pour glorious, powerful, world-shaking-life-changing knowledge in, and I can almost literally see it leaking out. If I want my students to truly understand, well, anything, I need to present it roughly 32,000 times. So I focus on the most crucial, most essential concept, and I cover it over and again in every form and fashion I can think of.

Have you noticed how often Paul talks about grace?

Now, I’m not saying that Paul thinks of us as pubescent children who can’t seem to focus on anything but food and entertainment and the cute kid across the room, but–

No, wait–

That’s exactly what I’m saying.

Remember grace, Beloved.

Happy Friday

Halloween One-a-Day Thursday 10/31/24

Posted on October 31, 2024 by michaelOctober 31, 2024

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

This would be why I don’t go in for Halloween.

Look, I’m not saying that everything I think about is good, noble, true, etc. My thought life goes astray plenty on any given day. But to go out of my way to dwell on darkness and evil and death and all that is against God?

Nope

I know some folk think the whole thing is harmless. I mean, you can read Little Red Riding Hood–doesn’t mean you’re going to go off and cavort with wolves, right?

True enough, except that talking wolves are pretend.

Evil isn’t.

It’s too bad, because I like costumes, and I find candy to be an important part of life, and I have fond memories of trick or treating as an eight-year-old in my plastic Frankenstein mask. But now that I’m a certified grownup I see the shadow behind the silliness, and I just don’t think it’s what we’re supposed to be about.

You, of course, are free to disagree with me. I have never claimed to be anything more than a Michael. You can dispute me here in the comments

better yet

you can come over and we’ll talk it out.

But bring candy.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Trophies One-a-Day Wednesday 10/30/24

Posted on October 30, 2024 by michaelOctober 30, 2024

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7).

So, when I read this carefully, it sounds like God is planning to use us to show how awesome and powerful his love is.

We’re his trophies.

I like this.

I used to have a few trophies, back in the day when they counted for something. Each one represented a success, a moment when I overcame the odds and the opposition to achieve victory. They brought memories of pain and toil and sweat and blisters and work and vision and anticipation and triumph and joy. I could tell you the story behind each race–whether you wanted to hear it or not.

One of these days we’ll all be at the wedding feast, doing wedding feast things, and God is going to call me up to the front and say, “Hey everybody. This is Michael. Let me tell you about this guy!” And the Lord of the Universe will share what a blithering, pathetic piece of fluff I was before his grace got hold of me and reeled me in. It won’t be at all embarrassing or shameful because we’ll be past all that nonsense, and everyone will laugh and weep and cheer and applaud God and his amazing, transforming, wonderful love.

I can’t wait.

So…if we’re trophies to show off God’s amazing goodness, aaand we are part of the Bride of Christ, does that make us trophy wives?

I gotta say, that feels a bit odd, but I’ll take it.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Still Grace One-a-Day Tuesday 10/29/24

Posted on October 29, 2024 by michaelOctober 29, 2024

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:5).

Again with the grace?

Yes, again with the grace.

Look, I don’t know about you, but when I take my eyes off grace–even for a moment–I start thinking that all this atoning-for-my-multiplicity-of-sins-growing-in-Christ-becoming-a-man-of-God-making-an-impact-on-the-world-becoming-the-awesomest-version-of-me-I-can-be stuff is actually, you know, on MY shoulders.

Which, of course, would crush me to powder in the blink of an eye.

Oh, by the way…when I said I don’t know about you?

I lied.

Embrace the grace, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

Life and Death One-a-Day Monday 10/28/24

Posted on October 28, 2024 by michaelOctober 28, 2024

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… (Ephesians 2:5)

I like zombie movies.

Go ahead and judge. You won’t be the first; you won’t be the last.

I think one of the fascinations behind these shows is the idea that a person can exist in two states, alive and dead at the same time.

It’s morbid and gruesome and scary and even funny on the screen, and yet…

That is who we were. We walked around in a macabre mockery of life, when in reality we were dead.

In the shows, the zombies are beyond hope; the only thing to do is release them from the pretense of life and kill them for good.

Of course, these shows don’t consider God. God solves the dilemma not by destroying life, but by defeating Death.

Imagine that movie–Jesus healing the zombies.

I’d pay to see that.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Mercy One-a-Day Friday 10/25/24

Posted on October 25, 2024 by michaelOctober 25, 2024

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy… (Ephesians 2:4)

So much mercy.

God is like Scrooge McDuck, with piles and piles of mercy, so much that you could dive into it, roll around in it, swim in it, practically drown in it

except that, you know…it’s the one thing keeping you afloat.

Of course, God doesn’t hoard his mercy. He spends it–rather lavishly, in fact.

On us

Happy Friday, Beloved

His Great Love One-a-Day Thursday 10/24/24

Posted on October 24, 2024 by michaelOctober 24, 2024

But because of his great love for us… (Ephesians 2:4)

Stop

Wait

Woah, Nellie

Hold on a minute.

I know you have a bucket full of issues to deal with this morning, and I’ll let you get to it in just a moment, but first…

Think of all the ways we can finish the above verse.

Because of his great love for us…

we are his.

Because of his great love for us…

we are whole.

Because of his great love for us…

we are safe.

Because of his great love for us…

we have shelter and food and clothing and love and life and peace even when peace makes no sense at all…

You can go on from there…and on…

And on

Happy Thursday, Beloved.