At church today Pastor Robert talked about the goal of the Christian life is to be more like Jesus. He said we don't have to DO anything to be more like Jesus, just open ourselves up to God and let him do all the work. He showed how in contrast to the world we live in is that view. We live, especially in America, in a society of Do-ers. We are defined by what we do. I've been learning about the Beattitudes for the last few years it seems. Its a difficult concept for me to grasp. The fact that we don't have to do anything for salvation, because that was already done for us, makes sense to me. God always demanded a blood sacrifice to cleanse our sins. The fact that Jesus was the last and perfect sacrifice seems just, in that it makes things even, and pays our debt. And that makes sense. But then after we accept this free gift that we never could have earned, we aren't supposed to DO anything else? That part is hard to explain, and hard for me to grasp sometimes. I try to think of it like all I am and all I want is a lump of play-dough or something balled up in my fist. All I have to do is open my fist and let God do whatever he wants with it. I don't have to change my thoughts, my heart, my actions. He will do that for me. And when I really think about it, its kind of ridiculous to think that I COULD ever change my heart, my actions, or my thoughts. I've been trying this long with no results, haven't I? It makes sense that the God of heaven and earth, the One that created me, and knew of me, and had plans for me before I was born is the only one who can make those kind of changes. But the fact that I don't have to DO anything? I'm just supposed to surrender? I'm supposed to sit back, and let God make me into what he wants me to be? Well, that just goes against my grain, like petting a cat in the wrong direction. Even writing this now its funny to me that I can accept the one thing and not the other. Its probably because I still think somewhere inside that I can change myself. If I pray enough, if I read my Bible enough, if I just have enough self control, I can change. Where do those funny ideas come from? I can only think it comes from the church. Not the church I'm at now, maybe not even one I've ever been to, but the legalistic "Thou shalt not" and "Thou must" church that floats around our society like a smog that chokes the joy and freedom being in Christ gives us. The thing I've got to realize is this: God did give His son as a free gift of salvation to all that would accept it, but also every day God gives us the gift of freedom. Every day God gives us the choice to surrender to Him. Every day I can say, "I'm not going to worry about what I'm going to say, think, or do today. I'll let God worry about that for me." Then at the end of the day we just need to have the same patience and loving kindness that God has for us. "I messed up today, but God is working on me." we can say. And really that's the gift of the Christian life isn't it? Freedom from ourselves. Freedom from our hang-ups and faults. Freedom to trust that the God who began a good work in us, before our father's father was born, will be faithful to complete it. If only we would just let Him.