A Time for Penance

On the heels of Fat Tuesday is Ash Wednesday. Today begins the time of Lent. From now until Easter many will be involved in acts of penance, performing acts of contrition. A time of fasting. A time of introspection. For some an attempt to gain favor with God.

Is that even possible?

Is there any way that we can gain favor with God?

Is there any thing that we can do that will make us right with God?

No.

Nada.

Nichts.

Not one single thing.

Not even a great big pile of things.

Not even a great big pile of things every day of your life is enough to gain favor with God.

And when your life on earth is over, there is definitely nothing you can do or anyone else can do for you.

So how can we gain favor with God?

Only through His mercy.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4-5).

"Not because of works done by us in righteousness." Do you get that? Not even the good things you have done with good intentions will merit any favor with God.

God's goodness.

God's loving kindness.

God's mercy.

God's washing.

God's Holy Spirit.

It's all God's work.

Usually we do it the other way around. If we want someone to like us, we do things to make them happy. We find out what they like. We do what they like. We hope that we've done enough that they'll like us.

God's plan is just the opposite. He starts out by loving us already. Then He demonstrated that love by sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Even though we didn't deserve it. Even though we hated God. Even though we were going away from Him. (Romans 5:8).

Then He showers us with His goodness, loving kindness, and mercy. He places the gift of righteousness in front of us. He wants us to take it. He wants us to be clean, so He washes us. He wants to make us anew, so He gives us His Spirit.

He does all the work.

All we have to do is accept the gift.

No more working. No more rituals. No more wondering if we've done enough good to counter all the bad.

Jesus paid it all!
All to Him I owe!
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.