A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.”
“Okay”, the man says, “I was married to the same woman for fifty years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.”
“That’s wonderful,” says St. Peter, “that’s worth three points.”
“Just three points!?” the man says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithes and service!”
St. Peter says, “That’s certainly worth a point.”
“One point?!!” “I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.”
“Fantastic, that’s good for two points.”
The man replies, “Two points!?!!” Exasperated, the man cries, “At this rate the only way I’ll get into heaven is by the Grace of God.”
St. Peter replied, “BINGO! 100 POINTS! Come on in!”
Scripture tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8,9)
A dear friend gave me this great definition of grace. “God is to me all that I am not. First I must acknowledge that I am not. Next He tells me what He is. He is everything to me of which I might have need that I am not.
I am not a good father, a good husband, a good Christian, or a good witness! This is my point of need. Grace comes and meets me at my point of need! I didn’t think He could be those things to me. However, as I recognize abiding, He is to me all that I thought that He was not. There is a life in me that is a good father, a good husband, and a good witness. It is His life and He is everything to me that I am not.
Look at what you are not. Don’t determine to work harder. Call on the Grace of God. At your point of need, He (Jesus) is everything to you that you thought He was not. That’s Grace! BINGO! – 100 POINTS
LIFE LESSON: Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
G.R.A.C.E. God’s Regeneration At Christ’s Expense! You must be born again in order to get into the kingdom of God. It truly is amazing grace! Bingo!
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