A Gospel of Contradictions?

Proverbs 12:27 Lazy people don’t get what they want, but riches come to those who work hard.

There are times, to be honest, when this good news of Jesus doesn’t feel like good news at all. After all, He Himself promised that becoming His disciple would be hard work. How is that good news?

At times you’ll find yourself struggling with temptation in a way that unbelievers never will. Instead, they’ll persecute you. And Jesus’ command of loving them(!) the way we love ourselves … what a serious pain in the neck that is.

Yesterday we saw how God dealt with our sin by lumping it on Jesus’ shoulders, so that when we believe in Him we’re given – by grace – a completely right standing before Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ had no sin, but God made him to become sin so that in Him we could be right with God.

A massive free gift with eternal rewards. And yet, Jesus promised that being His disciple was going to be a hard slog. On top of which, we know from our own experience that to get ahead in this life you have to work hard.

Proverbs 12:27 Lazy people don’t get what they want, but riches come to those who work hard.

The free gift of grace on the one hand, hard work on the other. How is that not a contradiction? All I can tell you is this …

When you set out on that journey, your slate wiped completely clean, for sure you’ll encounter severe trials along the way. But somehow through them, Jesus transforms you into a new person, the one He always intended you to be.

It turns out that this apparent contradiction is the most exquisite partnership on our journey toward eternity.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.