Every Monday
Your Sin Doesn’t End God’s Dream for You
By Rick Warren
“When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s.” 1 John 2:2 (MSG)
Your sin may seem like the end of the world, but it does not end God's dream for you. Why?
Because Jesus already paid for all your sins.
They were paid for before you even knew God had a dream for your life. The Message paraphrase says about Jesus, “When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s” (1 John 2:2).
When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the price for your sins: past, present, and future. His sacrifice was enough. You don’t have to earn God’s forgiveness because Jesus already paid the price. Through the cross, Jesus made it possible for all your sins to be forgiven. When you put your trust in him, everything you’ve ever done wrong is wiped out, forgiven, cleansed, purified, eliminated, and forgotten. Understanding that lets you live in the freedom to pursue God’s dream for your life.
Because God's goodness isn't based on your performance.
God's goodness to you is based not on whether you deserve it but on the fact that he is a good God.
"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" (Titus 3:5 NIV). That’s called grace! And it’s all you need to accept the good things God wants to do in your life.
Because God's calling and gifts are given unconditionally.
God has a call for each person’s life. He has called you to a certain dream and purpose. He has given you gifts to fulfill that calling—and they are given unconditionally. If you had to work for them, they wouldn't be called gifts.
God's dream for your life is still in full force. It doesn't matter if you’ve been working on it for years, or you’re getting started on it a little later in life.
It's never too late to get God's dream.
Talk It Over
- God’s grace is based not on your goodness but on his goodness. What does that say about God’s character?
- What are some of the ways you can tell that a person is living in God’s grace?
- How can you show God that you are ready to get his dream for your life?