2020 Daily Devotion - Day 84

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In theology, there are two ways to look at our relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The two views are called the theocentric view versus the egocentric view.  It is the difference in the direction of the relationship. The theocentric view says our relationship with God comes from God. The egocentric view says the direction of the relationship is from man to God. 

The egocentric view can become quite a burden and can even inflame our pride. The egocentric view can cause us to process everything through what we call in theology, “Works Righteousness’ – believing that somehow I can be righteous before God by my own good efforts. We can even begin to think faith is something I do, even though Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and faith is supernatural. The egocentric approach can also wear us out; trying to live up to what we think must be done.

The theocentric perspective says that God is the one who calls us into relationship with Him. This is what Jesus means in John 15:16:

John 15:16 RSV
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

This doesn’t mean our “free will” has been destroyed, because we can reject Him any time, if we so desire. And one of the negative outcomes from this approach is it sometimes makes people lazy Christians. When this happens, it is because they are treating the grace of God as what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace”, when in truth, it is very costly. Knowing this “costly grace” causes us to want to live for Him out of thankfulness.

During this period of our lives, possibly filled with anxiety, it is vital to know our relationship with the living God is authored by God Himself, which gives us tremendous peace.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we thank You because the relationship we have with You is based on Your initiative, and not ours. If the relationship were left to us, it might not ever happen in our broken condition of pride and self-will. During these challenging times, it is vital to know that You are always reaching out to us and establishing our relationship with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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