The Futility of Hoop-Jumping

Bible Reading:   1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you.   1 Corinthians 1:26

Have you ever seen pro athletes from rival teams being interviewed before a big game? They come on camera all pumped, talking up their team—and trashing the other guys. “We have the strongest defense in the nation,” they brag. “There’s no way they’re getting past us today.”

Bragging is part of the game. But it’s pointless. No matter what athletes say and no matter how sure they are of stomping the other team, the game is still won or lost on the field.

It’s easy to laugh at sports figures who try to impress others with their triumphs. But Christians often fall into the trap of relying on all the good things we’ve done to win God’s favor.

Take a vote: Which of these great deeds are good enough to impress God—and maybe get someone into heaven?

• I got straight A’s on all my Sunday school report cards.

• I played the accordion in church every week for fifty years.

• I was a missionary. Check out the hydroelectric plant I built for Bosnia.

• Oh yeah? Look at my Swahili translation of the Old Testament.

• Every Sunday I walked ten elderly ladies to church through a blizzard when the snow was up to my throat. And it was uphill both ways.

Those words sound as ridiculous as athletes before a game, don’t they? God doesn’t accept us because of great things we do. We don’t have to jump through any hoops to earn his love. Why? Because Jesus is the One who already won our acceptance with God. He was the one-and-only adequate sacrifice for our sins. That’s why the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done” (1 Corinthians 1:31).

We could never have earned our way into God’s family, but he accepted us anyway. And someday when we’re together in heaven, we will all proclaim that we are there because of the grace of God. He provided Jesus Christ for our salvation. And God will get all the glory.

TALK: How does it make you feel to know that you don’t have to jump through hoops to earn God’s love?

PRAY: God, thanks for sending your Son so we can spend eternity with you.

ACT: Tell a friend the Good News that God is already impressed with us because of what Jesus did.

 

 

Thirteen Ways to Say, “I Love You”

Bible Reading: John 14:18-21

Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. John 14:21

THERE ARE MANY, many different ways to tell someone, “I love you.” You can

• say, “I love you!”• sing a song;• mouth the words “I love you”;• give him or her a hug;• send flowers;• send a card or valentine;• write his or her name in the snow;• bake him or her a dozen cookies;• read him or her a story;• scatter tiny construction-paper hearts in• throw a kiss;   his or her lunch box or bag• clean his or her room; • give that person a command

Bet that last one surprised you, didn’t it? After all, who tells someone else “I love you” by giving that person a command?

A lot of people do. Your parents probably do it all the time. They say, “Don’t skateboard in the street”; “Fasten your seat belt”; and “Don’t strap a giant firecracker to your back and try to shoot yourself to the moon.” They don’t give you such commands because they hate you. They don’t tell you those things because they’ve got nothing better to do. They don’t give you commands like that because they want to ruin your life. They give you those commands because they love you. For example, they tell you not to skateboard in the street because they don’t want you to get run over by a truck. Their “commands” are ways of saying, “I love you.”

God does the same thing. He has given us commands like “Don’t lie,” “Don’t cheat,” and “Flee sexual immorality” because he loves us. He wants to protect us and provide good things for us. For example, his commands to keep ourselves pure in thought, word, and deed protect us from all kinds of addictions and diseases and other bad things. His commands are ways of saying, “I love you.”

And do you know how we can say, “I love you” back? Jesus said, “Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me” (John 14:21a). If we obey his commands, we’re showing Jesus that we love him. So do as much as you can today to say, “I love you, Jesus.”

REFLECT: Can you think of any of God’s commands that aren’t loving? Why not? Are God’s commands the onlyway he expresses his love to us? What are some other ways? Is obeying his commands the only way you can express your love for God? What are some other ways? How can you tell Jesus you love him today?

ACT: Cut out tiny construction paper hearts today and scatter them in someone’s lunch box, briefcase, dresser drawer, or book bag to say, “I love you.”

PRAY: “Thank you, God, for showing your love in all your commands. Help me to show my love for you by obeying you in what I think and do and say today.”