Happy Friday everyone!
This week, I took my car in for its inspection so that I could renew my registration, and a few minutes later the report came back.
Rejected.
Not exactly the word you want to hear. So I asked what was wrong, what failed, what needed fixing. And the technician said something I didn’t expect.
“Nothing’s wrong with your car. You were rejected because the test wasn’t required this year.”
In other words, the requirements had already been satisfied. The inspection was unnecessary. The car was already accepted, and I thought, “Wow, this is the first time I’m actually grateful for being rejected.”
And then I thought, “Wow, that’ll preach!” — because a lot of people live their lives like they’re still trying to pass inspection before God.
Trying harder.
Doing more.
Hoping they’ll qualify.
Wondering if they’ve done enough.
But listen to what Paul writes: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. In love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will — to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6)
Notice the language — “Accepted in the Beloved.”
That means accepted in Jesus.
Not because we pass the test.
Not because we earned approval.
Not because we finally got our act together.
Jesus fulfilled all those requirements.
The test has already been taken.
The standard has already been met.
The work has already been completed by Him.
Salvation is not a reward for those who pass. It’s a gift for those who believe.
May you find your peace this weekend in Jesus.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for all that You do for fulfilling every requirement and making us accepted in You. Help us to stop pursuing our own works and our own ways. And instead, Lord, please help us to find our peace and our rest in the work that You have done, in the standards that You have met, in the salvation that is found only in You. It’s in your holy and precious name, in Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.
Help us get this good news out, won’t you?
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