I attended a gathering of Christ Fellowship‘s men a few days back where we were challenged in our thinking. The speaker at the event was my friend, Paul Provance. Paul shared a profound truth that I had not before encountered:
“The gospel is not a self-improvement plan; it is a self-replacement plan.”
The implications of this statement are life changing. Any man with initiative, wants to do better – but God has not called us to do better. Any man of character wants to be better, but God has not called us to be better. The good news of the gospel is that our standing with God and our hope for a life lived well are not dependent upon our efforts. Our hope lies in Christ alone and His life lived through us.
“…I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
– Galatians 2:20
What a freeing message! God knows that my best will never do; so, He offers me His best.