A New Years Resolution: Do Not Work

ScriptureRomans 4:1-8   


Scripture MemoryRomans 4:4-5

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 

 

Journey: Last week we thought a bit about how critical “hope” is to our lives and what it means to hope in Christ as we walk into 2012. We’ll return to that theme for a few minutes today and then move on to think about our New Year’s resolutions against the backdrop of the Gospel.  

 

Resolutions are almost always about human effort and personal work and, of course, that is not wrong. The Bible consistently commends hard work. But when it comes to the ultimate source of hope and joy in life (understanding the Gospel) we are not told to work hard. Instead we are told to simply trust in One who has done hard work for us. So, today is not a “go and do this” type of sermon, it’s a “relax and take it easy” kind of sermon. Read the memory verse and you’ll begin to get the picture. Thank God – He is so good! 


That you may be able to rest even when you’re running hard,

 

Will (for the pastors)