“Don’t just do something, sit there”.  A very wise piece of advice. But so is this one: “Don’t just sit there, do something!” What? Yes, we need them both. There is time to sit still and there’s time to work. The tricky part is to find the right balance between these two.

Every time I write a blog post about grace, I feel I’ve left out that we are also called to do something. And every time I blog about how to enhance your faith, I feel I’ve left out that we are also called to sit still.

In some ways we need to learn to live in a tension not only between rest and work but also between faith and works. But how to achieve a nice balance between these two polarities?

You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of.  (Ephesians 2:8-19, CEB)

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
It’s not something we do.
It’s all God.
It’s all grace.
Thank you, Jesus!

But let’s keep on reading. We don’t get off the hook that easily. We should not forget the verse 10.

Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives. (Ephesians 2:8-10, CEB)

Wow!
God planned for these good things to be the very way that we live our lives.
The same grace that saves us then empowers us to do good things.
The same God that calls us to be still also calls us to be active.

We don’t get ready made answers or to-do lists. We are called to live WITH God. When we prayerfully enter into work and rest, God blesses us. The balancing act between faith and works is grace. We rest in grace, we work in grace. We are saved by grace, we do good works by grace. It’s all grace. From the beginning to the end. All glory to God!

 

Gracious God,
You are so good to us.
It’s all grace!
Enable us to fully embrace grace
so we could find balance between rest and work, faith and works.
Show us how to live with you every minute of our lives.
Empower us to share and celebrate
your magnificent grace.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you found balance between rest and work, faith and works?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live, love, rest and work in grace!

Giving thanks today for
#641 rest in grace
#642 work in grace
#643 being saved by grace
#644 doing good works by grace
#645 life is grace
#646 balance is grace
#647 love is grace
#648 growth is grace
#649 faith is grace
#650 all is grace
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Image courtesy of Marian Trinidad. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty & Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday &Soli Deo Gloria and