From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17).

Sometimes life feels like Monopoly. You land on Park Place and win the game, or you draw the dreaded “Do Not Pass ‘Go”’ card and head to jail. How well you do seems to hinge on how well you played the game.

But the reality is that playing the game of life well doesn’t get you into heaven or keep you out of hell. Only the grace of God gives you hope that your eternity is secure. That truth should be a game changer for all of us, as we put our faith in the fullness of Christ’s provision rather than our flawed human performance.

Does this mean that our behavior doesn’t matter to God? Of course not. What it means is that our good behavior should be motivated by something more than avoiding hell’s consequence or earning God’s affection. The life of faith is not motivated by mere dread of our guilt or desire for our gain, but by gratitude for God’s grace that cancels our guilt and changes our desires.

The only one who wants you to serve God with a burden of guilt on your back or greed in your heart is Satan. Grace that is neither earned nor deserved but received by faith produces the love that honors God’s law and blesses our lives.

Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me so much that You sent your Son to pay the full price for my sins. Help me to respond to this great grace – not with dread or greed – but by living the law of love that honors You and blesses me.