Do or Done?

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,where in he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

So, we’ve been talking… all world religions are all spelled the same way “d-o” — do …but Christianity is spelled “d-o-n-e” — done. Religion teaches that your effort makes you good and your goodness gets you acceptance. Relationship with Christ made you accepted in the beloved… it’s already done! Do you remember the words from Heaven when Jesus was baptized? “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Then Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians that we have been accepted in Christ-the Beloved One.

Before you “do” a single thing today, you are accepted and loved. Our pop-culture has made it abundantly clear that you matter as a human-doing rather than a human-being. That mindset is why we can euthanize the old, abort the young, marginalize certain cultural groups, and disregard the poor… those that can’t “do” anything for us (a topic for another eletter). Many of us have only had the experience of being accepted when we are able to “do” what’s expected, impressive, or good enough, and yet the love of God has nothing to do with what you do!

This is so important. Our pastor (David Loveless) has coached us in the E3 process of living in a thriving life with Christ … Evaluate, Embrace, and Engage… and we have been sharing that with you (click here to watch messages). Woven throughout these teachings is the profound mystery of being accepted in the beloved. This week we are going to teach you ways to Engage in your next steps to live in a growing, thriving, deeply satisfying relationship with God. Before we can even think about bringing our human effort to the journey, we have to get this: “you are already accepted and loved.” Then, any effort you bring is brought out of love and desire for God and not duty or vain “doings”.

Done,

Scott & Clare

*Things to do to grow and support what’s already been done*

Nursery & Pre K