The GOOD NEWS: “How Do I Live Now?”
Read John 15:1-8 and Ephesians 2:1–10
Over the last few weeks, we’ve talked about guilt, forgiveness, shame, and restoration. Jesus knows our whole story and still comes to redeem us. In baptism, God puts His name on us and welcomes us into His family. So now what? How do we live as people who have received this incredible gift?
Our instinct is often to say, “I need to do better.” Yes, that is true but we can take that and run with it in all the wrong ways… Typically we start by making a list: pray more, be more patient, go to church, help someone, stop falling into that same sin. These are good desires. But somewhere along the way, we can start treating the Christian life like we’re on probation—as though God has given us another chance, and now we have to prove we deserve to stay in the family with the lingering fear that if we don’t prove ourselves its all going to be revoked. OR we just turn the Christian life into a “To-Do” list.
Listen to what Paul says: we were dead in our sins, and God made us alive with Christ. We are saved by grace through faith.He carried your sin to the cross and rose again to give you life. You could never earn that gift, and your good works are no repayment for it.
Your life with God begins with what Jesus has done for you.
Then Paul tells us what this new life is for: we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared for us to do. The God who saves us also gives us a life of purpose. He has uniquely and intentionally created us to live in a way that glorifies HIM! His Spirit works in us, teaching us to love what he loves and shaping how we treat the people around us.
We don’t do good works to become God’s children. We do them because, through Jesus, we already are.
This is where John 15 comes in. Jesus gives us a picture : “I am the vine. You are the branches.” A branch receives life from the vine, and through that life, the branch produces fruit. As we abide in Jesus—hearing his Word, receiving his gifts, and trusting his promises (remember that “to-do list”?)—His Spirit shapes our hearts and how we live.
An apology grows from a heart humbled by grace. Patience grows as we remember His patience with us. Generosity grows as we recognize how freely we have received with the invitation and trust to steward it well. These actions serve real people and flow from the love Jesus is growing in us.
Jesus gives us life. His Spirit grows the fruit. Our neighbor receives the love. God works through our lives and into the lives of others.
This week, return to Jesus and his promises. Let His love shape how you see and serve the people around you. And when you fall short, return to his forgiveness. The branch never outgrows its need for the vine. Neither do we. God is always there catch us when we fall, to pick us up, and set us back on our feet. And when He does that, he doesn’t threaten us with “If you do it again, you're out.” Instead He meets us with grace and says, “Try again. This time with my help.”
Prayer: Jesus, keep me close to you. Shape my heart through Tour Word, and grow in me the love that serves my neighbor. Amen.
Say it simply: “Jesus gives me new life, and his love grows in me so I can love others.”
