Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word (2 Thess. 2:16-17).

If you only measured by the attitudes and actions of your life, would you be a sinner or a saint? If you measure by the Bible’s standard that counts even our best works as “filthy rags” before God, the answer is pretty clear. There is so much humanity in our motives and deeds that no one is going to brag of earthly performance before a holy God in heaven.

Since God’s standard for our actions and attitudes is perfect holiness, Jesus said, “even when we have done all that we should do, we are still unworthy servants” (Lk. 17:10). Because God knows our thoughts as well as our deeds, honest reflection leads us to the Bible’s conclusion: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

That is bad news for everyone who hopes for a heavenly future – were it not for the grace of God. The Bible says that God our Father has loved us and given us eternal comfort and hope through the grace he has provided in Jesus Christ!

If you confess that sinner more than saint is your life’s label, but you welcome Christ’s grace, then you need not despair. Eternal comfort is yours!

Such comfort is a calling. It so changes the motives of our hearts that we desire to honor God with works and words that confirm to others – and our own hearts – the reality of his transforming grace.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for granting the grace that is eternal comfort to a sinner like me. May that comfort be such encouragement to my heart that I have transformed desires to please you, and may my words and deeds confirm this change!