5 Key Connections: Legalism, God’s Grace, and more

Here are 5 Key Connections from recent Christian articles around the web, including the difference between legalism and discipline, how God’s grace leads us into worship, and more.

God’s Grace Makes Some People Worship (Colin Smith, Unlocking the Bible)

Here’s why you believe, if you are a Christian: God set His love on you. God’s Holy Spirit awakened you. God drew you to Himself. He redeemed you. He gave you new life from above, and you did nothing to deserve it! Neither did I. That’s grace.

The Difference between Legalism and Discipline (R. Kent Hughes, Crossway)

You have to understand there is a universe of difference between discipline and legalism. Legalism says, “I will do this thing in order to gain merit before God.” Discipline says, “I love God, I love the Lord Jesus Christ and I will discipline myself to please them.”

Rehearsing What’s True When Our Kids Head to Try Outs and Auditions (Jen Oshman)

My kids and yours are aiming high, trying hard, and taking big risks. We want to assure them and comfort them with all kinds of “probablys,” and “don’t worrys,” and “of course you wills!”

But, the truth is, these parental phrases fall short. Our kids need a better hope than their own abilities. A better hope than probably. A better hope than comparison to their peers. A better hope than “you’ve got this.” Even a better hope than “I believe in you!”

Gratitude Leads to Joy (Gavin Ortlund, Soliloquium)

I’ve also discovered that suffering and sadness do not negate the power of gratitude. Even when you are lamenting disappointments of life—the glass is half-empty stuff—gratitude still works. Often, in my experience, it overcomes negative emotions, or at least staves them off a bit. I don’t know how to explain that—a psychologist maybe could. I just know it works.

When God Calls (David McLemore, For the Church)

Genesis 12:1 shows us what happens when God speaks to a man. Before God speaks, deadness and darkness; after God speaks, life abundant. Abram’s redemption—like every believer’s—began with God speaking. No one comes to saving faith apart from God’s effective call.