Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

As Christians, we often grapple with the tension between grace and works. We live in a world that teaches us to earn our keep—to put in the hard work to achieve success, whether it’s in our careers, relationships, or spiritual journey. Yet, when it comes to our relationship with Christ, things take a different turn. Scripture highlights a profound truth: we cannot balance our debts through our performance. The very essence of our faith rests in understanding that what Jesus did for us on the cross is a gift, one that is utterly free and cannot be repaid.

The Weight of Scripture

To grasp this concept, let us turn to the Word of God. In Romans 3:23, we read, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our inherent sinful nature puts us in a position of debt we cannot pay. But the story does not end there. Romans 3:24 offers hope and salvation: “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Through Christ’s sacrifice, our debt is paid, and we are justified, not by our works or performance but solely through His grace.
Similarly, in Mark 10:45, Jesus states, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This scripture reminds us that His mission on earth was to serve, not to demand payment. He paid the ultimate price to free us from the bondage of sin and death.
Moreover, the apostle Paul reminds us of the gravity of our condition in Romans 6:23, saying, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” By one man’s failure, death entered the world, but through one man’s obedience, death was defeated. The price of our sin was fully paid by Jesus on the cross, and now we can receive this debt cancellation and step into the promise of eternal life.

The Illusion of Balance

As we navigate through our lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of balance. We often attempt to weigh our deeds against our misdeeds, trying to tip the scales in our favor. We believe that our wisdom, knowledge, achievements, and abilities can earn us God’s favor, but that’s simply not the case. When we look at our efforts in light of Christ’s sacrifice, we see that they pale in comparison.
Imagine you are buying your dream home. Life happens, and soon you find yourself falling behind on your mortgage payments. One day, the bank calls you in, and your heart sinks as you anticipate hearing the words, “Your home is being foreclosed.” However, upon arriving, the management takes a different approach. With a gentle look, they invite you to sit down. Instead of announcing your misfortune, they hand you a piece of paper that states “Paid in Full,” coupled with a deed to your home and the keys to a brand-new car!
It’s a surreal moment; confusion washes over you. You had a debt you couldn’t bear, yet someone came in and paid it off without expecting anything in return. What would your response be? Would you feel compelled to repay this blessing, or would you just step into it with gratitude and joy? The logical response would be to receive it, to revel in your newfound freedom.

The Gift of Grace

This is precisely what Christ has done for us. He paid the price for our sins and offered us the ultimate gift—grace. Yet, what does it mean to accept this grace? It requires humility and surrender. We have to choose to let go of our need to earn God’s love and instead embrace the truth that it is freely offered. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This holy exchange invites us not only to receive God’s goodness but also to act out of that abundance.

Surrendering to Grace

Receiving this gift means letting go of our obsession with balance. It challenges us to step into the grace given to us daily and use it to fuel our desire to serve others—not out of obligation but from a place of overflow. When we come to understand the depth of this gift, our lives transform. We become conduits of grace, reflecting Christ’s love back into the world.
Living in balance requires us to constantly reevaluate our actions against our perceived worthiness. However, when we realize that we live under grace, this balance shifts. Our lives become a response to His love rather than an obligation to earn it. For example, if we look towards James 2:17, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” We understand that our faith activates our response, but that response is birthed from His grace.
As we become more aware of this truth, our focus shifts. We move from striving to thriving. Our work becomes a reflection of His goodness, and our struggles, once heavy with the burden of debt, transform into testimonies of redemption.

Balancing Life through Love

In this journey of faith, we are called to action, but it’s crucial to understand the foundations behind this action. 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.” Our love for others stems from the love we’ve received from Him. We are encouraged to serve and love others, not to earn a place in His Kingdom but as a natural response to the love we’ve already received.
Our service is a joy—an opportunity to express gratitude for the immeasurable grace poured into our lives. Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, teaching us that to find true fulfillment and balance in our lives, we must follow His example and serve others.

A Life Transformed

Consider the person who recognizes the gifts they have received. They no longer walk in fear or shame, burdened by the weight of their debt; instead, they walk in confidence, knowing they are loved and accepted. They live their life as a testimony—a ripple effect of grace that touches everyone around them.
Now, this promise of grace is not merely a “someday” expectation; it is a “today” reality. Are you ready to receive it? Are you willing to lose everything to gain Christ and step into the promise of eternal life today? Christ invites us into this relationship where we experience His love and acceptance fully, right now.
Imagine being the beacon of hope in a world yearning for acceptance. As followers of Christ, that is our calling. We are invited to share this beautiful redemption story—an ongoing testament of grace, love, and transformation.

The Journey Ahead

Ultimately, it’s not about how much we can do to repay Jesus for what He did for us. Instead, it’s all about how deeply we can accept His love and let it overflow into our actions. The imbalance of grace does indeed bring us balance—an equilibrium where we realize our worth is not found in our ability to repay a debt but in the acknowledgment of what has already been given.
Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father, freeing us from the cycle of debt and pleasing performance. In that freedom, we have room to dance, serve, and love—out of gratitude rather than obligation.

Conclusion

In our endeavor to live out our lives as faithful followers of Christ, let us never forget that the core of our faith is not performance but acceptance. Our journey begins with a conscious decision to embrace the amazing grace offered to us. Let’s lay down the burdens of trying to achieve balance through our deeds and instead take hold of the explosive grace flowing from the cross.
The liberation that comes from understanding this gift enables us to live fully, love generously, and walk confidently in our relationship with Christ. Embrace His grace today, live in gratitude, and let it work through you to bring a world in need to the foot of the cross, where every debt is paid in full, and love reigns supreme. This is the promise of eternal life we can claim—not just in some distant future but in the here and now. Step boldly into that life, and transform your existence, embodying the truth that the debt is paid by the blood of Jesus for all who believe.