When CandyLand Turns Into Call Of Duty | Friday
Week 1 | The Rules That Break You
Listen instead of reading
Take a Moment
Ask God what He wants to show you before reading today
Read The Daily
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
My wife and kids hate to play board games together. There’s a couple of reasons. First, we are all uber-competitive, so it always ends in a huge fight and a family war. Who knew that a game that sounds as nice as CandyLand could end in bruises and blood. The second reason is that in my passion to win, I have been known to change the rules mid-game (when I’m not cheating) to make sure I win. Your family is probably way healthier (and way less psycho), but let’s talk about something that might sound familiar: trying to be perfect or win by following a bunch of rules. It’s still like trying to win a game where the rules keep changing, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t win.
Here’s the thing: living by a strict set of rules can be just as draining as breaking them. But that doesn’t mean we should just ignore everything. Instead, let’s look at it differently to find freedom. It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about living out love. When we really get how much love Jesus has shown us, we start to realize that He’s given us a new heart and we “Get To” to express that love because it’s how we’ve been designed, not as a “Got To” checklist.
How does it feel to admit you can’t earn your way out of life’s messes or earn more favor with God? Is it tough to let go of trying to control everything? Are there “rules” in your life that are causing more stress than peace? Let’s break free from trying to earn our way to a better life. Jesus has already done the heavy lifting. The real point of living out the New Covenant is to
Live and Love like Jesus as Jesus Lives in you and Loves through you.
It’s about loving out of the abundance of how we’ve already been loved by Him. That’s what really matters. Understanding that the standard is impossible is actually good news. It shows us that it’s not about us trying harder, but about embracing the grace and freedom found in what Jesus has done. It was said Sunday: “If you’re under the Law, then it’s going to bury you.” The Law’s impossible standard shows us that we all fall short and need something more—grace.
Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.
Read The New Testament In A Year
4 x 6 Plan | Read: Acts 3:11-26 & 2 Peter 3:1-7