Back in Kindergarten, in the year… well, in the first year of Southside Christian Academy, a private school that opened its doors at the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ, I was the only kindergartener. Margie Spradley taught the class with me and two 1st graders as her students. I loved school and I wanted to do all of what my classmates, the 1st graders were doing. Yep. Always the over-achiever. I still fight that battle as I continue to strive to do my best in all things.
That can be a good quality when “whatever you do, whether in word or deed” you do to God’s glory (Colossians 3:17). However, it can also lead to pride and a works-based, not grace-based faith.
But I’ve learned a few things over the years. It isn’t about how much I do or how good I look compared to my classmates, coworkers, friends, bosses, or enemies. It’s about His grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). For His grace is sufficient for me and His power is made perfect in my weakness (II Corinthians 12:9-10).
May we all be reminded how far we come from a child-like perspective of works to a mature acceptance of grace. Now, a child-like faith… that is something we should strive for and something we’ll look at it next Thursday! ;)
