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Good morning, dear friends! Before I begin to share my heart with you today, may I share a significant fact that will absolutely change your life forever? Um, Joey Chestnut. He took the Mustard Belt Prize again this year. He ate 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, breaking his own record of 75 last year. What does that do for you? My apologies if I just insulted any of you who think this is a wonderful, beneficial accomplishment and proof of a life well lived. My question to Joey would be, "What motivated you to want to do this?' What benefit could there possibly be in doing this? All I can see here is a need for recognition. Speaking for myself, I'd like to be remembered for a much greater cause. I'd like to be remembered for being a faithful follower of my Jesus.
This morning, I'm wearing one of my many shirts that bears witness to my faith. This one in particular says, "It's all about that GRACE." Maybe after today, I need to retire this shirt. I have wondered if it gives off conflicting messages. In my heart of hearts, I want this message to convey to a watching world that if not for the grace of God, my life would be lived apart from Him and in vain. It's all about His wonderful grace in my life that I get to be a Christian. It is His gift to me…His free gift for the asking. But, is it really?
Philippians 2:12, 13 tells us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purposes." Turns out, my life is not really my own after all. Though salvation truly is a free gift from God, it carries responsibilities with it. Once saved, by His grace, His undeserved favor, we are responsible to live our lives out in a way that draws others to Christ. Um, eating 76 hotdogs in 10 minutes will do that? As I see it, my Christian life is a paradox. Though I'm free from my old sinful lifestyle, I'm now a slave. I'm a slave to Jesus. Wearing my favorite purple shirt with the slogan, "It's all about that grace," likely does nothing for someone who doesn't know or understand that grace. No, I've got to live it out before them.
As I sit here on my mountain (God's mountain) this morning, my heart rejoices over my salvation. There is freedom in restraint. Hear that again…there is freedom in restraint! As we continue to get settled in here in our "little piece of heaven", it's become increasingly important to remember that the Lord is with me here in this place. If only the animals that wander freely about were the only ones watching my life, then I need to remember that my life needs to be a testimony of faithfulness to God. But it's not about the animals. It's about all those people who are watching me to see if my faith is genuine…or not. They want to know that my "walk" and my "talk" match. They want to see Jesus in me!
Recently, a bear wandered into our yard. He was oblivious to us watching him. He stood up on his hind legs, leaned against a tree, and rubbed his back, just as we would do. He then grabbed a small pear from the tree, ate it, and continued on his way. Just passing through, I guess. Friends, we are, too, just passing through this old world. This is truly not our home, but we live for the day we will go Home. Home to be with Jesus. Home, where we belong. It's all about that grace.
So, I ask you, friend, as I'm asking myself this morning…how is your time on this earth lived out? Is it in need of recognition for yourself, or is your life lived for the glory of our Father…you know, the One who loves us so much that He gave His One and Only Son on that cruel cross on Calvary? That One who set us free. Free to be slaves for Jesus. It truly IS all about that grace, but let's be careful that in our freedom, we don't nullify His grace by living our lives honoring ourselves. Freedom comes with a price. Jesus paid the price. We reap the benefits, but our salvation does cost us something. It costs us the honor of dying to self daily, that we might live for God.
Like I said, I'm getting settled in here on the mountain. As I sit on my porch in the fresh summer air, writing, sharing my heart with you, there stands a deer in the yard. She has decided that I don't intimidate her in any way. She snorts, stomps her feet at me, and stands rigid, staring me down. She is immovable, at the moment. She is speaking loudly to my heart today. I, too, must be immovable in my faith. My witness will not come from my favorite purple shirt. It only comes from a life lived for Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, the song says. No turning back, no turning back. No matter what comes my way, like Paul and Silas, who sang and prayed at midnight while in chained to a prison cell, I, too, must walk out my faith, daily, in a way that others see Jesus in me. The shirt won't cut it. Though I'm sad to retire my favorite purple shirt, I know I'm free to be bound to freedom…freedom from myself and all those sinful desires. I will stand my ground. I am a slave for Christ. I pray you hear my heart today. I pray you'll know the freedom, too, of slavery. There is freedom in restraint. God bless you as you walk out your own salvation in fear and trembling before the God who made you, knows you well, and loves you so deeply. I sure love this mountain. He's placed me here to learn these valuable lessons from the animals. I don't need hotdog recognition. I need no recognition at all. I need Jesus. I'm so blessed and grateful for the grace He freely gives…grace to serve Him with my life. I pray that you, too, know the freedom of slavery for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. May the Lord inspire your hearts on to a deeper walk with Him…one remembered for a life lived faithfully to Him, and not to hotdogs!