The Story

The grace of God is not only forgiveness of our sins, but also life for something greater than ourselves. We may think that spiritual life is doing religious activities such as reading the Bible, worshiping, giving, or participating in service work. But even if we do these things, we may still be living for our own small kingdom. True Christian living is not just about what we do, but about whose our hearts are. Outwardly, we may appear to be serving God, but inwardly, we may be seeking the approval of others, our own self-satisfaction, or our own glory. We may talk about God's kingdom, but in reality, our own needs and plans may still be at the center. The problem of the Pharisees was this: they had many religious activities, but their hearts were not truly surrendered to God. Outwardly they appeared clean, but inwardly they were full of greed and selfishness. True righteousness does not come from an outward appearance, but from a heart that has been transformed by grace. So we should not go back to living for our own small kingdoms. Jesus Christ has rescued us from sin and self-centeredness, and He calls us to live for God's kingdom. His kindness makes our hearts submit to God, and our lives have a greater and more beautiful purpose than before. Holy and glorious Father, I praise you, for you not only forgive my sins, but also call me to live for your glory. Forgive me when I serve you with my hands, but in my heart I seek my own glory, satisfaction, and desires. Thank you, Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the dead to help me out of sin and self-centeredness. Please let the Holy Spirit take control of my heart, so that my life will no longer be my own, but will be for You, praying in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.