What’s In It For Me
Mustard Seed Chronicles: Story Time with LU Grandma
There is no question that we live in a world driven by entitlement. Wherever you look, whatever you read, whoever you talk to there is an underlying idea that they’re owed something. Scripture tells us that this is not true. And it is no surprise to any of us that Christianity is totally counter-cultural. Jesus taught counter-cultural behavior! Let’s look at a few of the commands that we are given as Christians to live a life, not entitled but crowned as heirs in His inheritance.
First, we need to know our condition.
Romans 3:10-18 (NIV): “As it is written, there is no one righteous, not even one; It is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can expect anything good from the Father. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
James 1:5-8 (NIV): “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
There is only one remedy for our unrighteous and deadly condition, to be born again.
John 3:6-7 (NLT): “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”
John 3:16,18 (NLT): “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. … “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
If we accept God’s remedy, we are enabled to and must obey the commands below. And, I note, that it is only if we obey can we expect the blessings promised.
Here are some of His commands and the benefits that follow. (The blessings are in boldface.)
John 13:34,35 (ASV): “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 15:12 (ASV): “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 15:4-5, 7 (NLT): “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:14-16 (NLT): “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
So, are we entitled to feel entitled, as humans? Certainly not!
Can we be blessed because of His grace? Absolutely! Can we live as the future heirs to His promises that we are? YES! IF we walk in obedience after being born again because His Spirit comes to live within us as His helper!
Prayer
Holy Father, how we thank and praise You for giving us the worth only You can give through Your Son Jesus! We pray that we will always walk in Your ways because of it. In Jesus’ name we ask it.
Amen.
Meet the Author
Timi Plyter
“LU Grandma”
Lead Parent Advocate
