Not a Checklist God

Have you ever been tempted to do a checklist with God? This is when we check off the good things we’ve done as credit towards future requests to the Lord. If we prayed that day, check. If we read our Bible, check. If we went to church on Sunday, check. If we went to church during the week, two checks. If we witnessed to someone, three checks. If we fasted that day, four checks and so on.

If we live by the checklist of our good deeds, we are easily disappointed when God doesn’t move when we expect Him. If we live by the checklist of our bad deeds, we expect God to strike us down with lightning. The checklist mentality is the direct opposite of grace.

God doesn’t keep a checklist of all things we’ve done right or wrong as a litmus test to answer our prayers. He is a God of grace—who lavishes unmerited (undeserved) favor on His children. Through His grace, we find peace in the midst of our ever changing ways. Through His grace, we find mercy in our times of need. Through His grace, we find unconditional love and acceptance.

The checklist mentality is difficult to shake for those of us who grew up in a legalistic church environment. We sometimes find comfort that if we keep the rules—we are in and we can be more prone to judge those who don’t keep the rules like us. Grace releases us from being judgmental and in the grip of legalism. Through God’s grace, we are comforted by the Holy Spirit to press towards Jesus in spite of our weaknesses. God doesn’t want our checklist, He wants our hearts completely devoted to Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve lived a checklist life. Help me to draw on Your grace for the power I need to overcome my weaknesses. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In His Service,

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