Dear Friends and Families,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” [Ephesians 2:8-10].
As I write this newsletter contribution, Masterchef is showing, and the contestants are once cooking up a gourmet storm with all the associated drama and degustation!
If you are familiar with this program, or other performance-type reality television shows, you will know how stressful it is for contestants to rise to the occasion, impress the judges with their efforts, and keep their place in the show until the end of the season.
What is the driving factor with staying in the contest and possibly taking the trophy at the end of the series? It is simply this: human effort.
No matter the motivations, or the coaching, or the emotions, at the end of the day, the respective judges need to be impressed, and that is all that ultimately matters.
This method of appeasement may well have its place when trying to ascertain the best cook, singer, or renovator in Australia, but thank God, indeed, it is not how it works when it comes to being a friend of God!
As St Paul affirms in the verse above, we are saved by grace, through faith. Faith in what? The person of Jesus and his saving work through the cross and his resurrection.
Do we therefore need to earn our salvation, or impress God? Not at all!
It is a free gift. A promise fulfilled. A victory without effort.
The truth is, that no matter how hard we try to better ourselves, or dedicate ourselves to impressing Him, we can never reach God’s standard for his human creation – perfection.
But Jesus changes all that in one day. Jesus himself, becomes our righteousness; we are saved through his life, not our own substandard efforts.
Not only that, but having been saved, God empowers us to do all those good works that he has prepared in advance for us to do. What a privilege!
After a long, sometimes disorientating, busy (and often cold!) term, I trust you will all have a refreshing holiday break with your family and friends.
If you would like to speak further, or have questions about the Christian life, then do please contact me at: [email protected]
I also encourage you to pray the collect prayer for the week below.
If you would like to explore the certainty of Christ further, the two local Anglican churches listed below lead regular Sunday services.
St Peter’s, Craigieburn (meeting normally at 10.30am on Sundays in the Chapel at Hume Anglican Grammar – 100 Mt Ridley Road, Mickleham)
Locum: Father Charles Potter
Mobile: 0468 331 549 / 03 9308 2452
Email: [email protected]
http://www.humeparish.melbourneanglican.org.au
https://www.facebook.com/humeparishcraigieburn/
Redemption Anglican Church (meeting normally at 4.00pm on Sundays at the Hume Tennis & Community Centre - 225 Marathon Blvd, Craigieburn)
Pastor: Rev. Akhil Gardner
Mobile: 0400 021 381
Email: [email protected]
https://www.rccraigieburn.com.au/online
https://www.facebook.com/rccraigieburn/
Prayer for the week
O Lord,
from whom alone all good things come:
grant that by your holy inspiration,
we may think those things that are good,
and by your merciful guiding,
may perform them;
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Song (Ephesians 2:8-10 – Colin Buchanan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEPwuUlAtno
Reverend Peter Waterhouse - School Chaplain