How Many Merit Badges Does It Take?

Your hearts should be strengthened by God's grace, not by obeying rules.

Hebrews 11:28

 

When I first became a believer, I was stunned by all the "rules, regulations, and rituals" I was expected to adhere to.  For a long time, I tried so hard to earn God's love by keeping all the rules, regulations and rituals because I did not want to disappoint God.  After all, my young mind believed, my eternal salvation was at stake...or so I was led to think.

 

After years of trying and failing, I was so depressed with it all that I simply quit trying.  I told God that, apparently, I was never going to be 'good enough' for Him to love me.  And it was at THAT time, when I was struggling the most, that God sent someone into my life that explained it in a way I could actually understand.  

 

We cannot EARN God's grace!  We cannot EARN God's love!  We cannot EARN God's mercy! If we could earn it, then they wouldn't be gifts from God...they would be merit badges of spirituality.  And how many merit badges would we have to earn to deserve God's gifts?  Not a single one!  Christ did it ALL for us.  We only have to accept that and believe that.