God Did

God has been reminding me over and over lately that the work of my salvation is done.  Our pastor has been hammering this point home every week.  I'm reminded of the quote by Derek Webb on "The House Show" CD that talks about hearing the gospel over and over again:  

"There’s a great quote by Martin Luther in the sixteenth century. He had a church that he was the pastor of and some came to him and said, 'Pastor, why is it that week after week after week all you ever preach to us is the gospel?' – implying that 'we’re ready to move on to something else. Certainly we know this by now.' Luther’s response was, “Well, because week after week you forget it, because week after week you walk in here looking like a people who don’t believe the gospel. And until you walk in looking like people who are truly liberated by the truth of the gospel, I’m going to continue to preach it to you.” And, until his dying day, he did."

I was sitting in church yesterday, and during one of the last songs it was as if God was right there next to me, reminding me that it's not my good effort that makes me right with him.  I know this already.  I do.  But I don't live like it.  I need to be reminded of this everyday it seems.  Our pastor's wife shared in service, too, about being released from performance.  So many times our identity is caught up in how much we do or how successful we are.  Thank you for the reminder, O Lord, that our identity is in You.  Thank you for doing the work on the cross.

I woke up this morning with the Shane and Shane song lingering in my head.  Listen here if you get a chance:  "God Did" by Shane & Shane.  This song is very powerful.  I love the line, for what the law could not do, God did.

God Did

Growin’ up I overheard

All the grown ups sayin’

You better be prayin’

And sayin’

All the right little things

At the right little times

And I had it down

At least on the outside

I’d put my best side forward

I could smile with the best

And dress like the rest

Of the messed up church folk singin’ a song

Are you sitting down

With all your sin and shame all stored up

Are you ready to live

For what the law could not do

God did

Could it be that morality 

Got the best of you and me 

Got us thinking

That we’re on the brink 

Of a drink of the cup that’s all filled up

With the cross havin’ even a little to do with us

It was His day

It was His way

To the glory of His grace

Took our disease

Enough to please

The Father of lights

To bruise Jesus

Maybe do’s and don’ts 

Were made to show

How much we do 

And don’t ever make it