22 September 2026
Mark Penrith reminds us that the Christian life does not begin with our effort. It begins with God’s grace. Paul writes, “But when the kindness of God our Saviour and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy.” We did not climb our way to God. God came to us in mercy. Mark says, “The kindness of God appeared in a manger. The kindness of God was nailed to a tree. The kindness of God rose from a tomb.” Our salvation rests on what God has done, not what we have achieved.
That changes how we approach every day. We often wake up thinking about everything we need to accomplish. Work needs our attention. Children need our time. Responsibilities keep coming. Even our Christian life can become another list of things to achieve. Pray more. Read more. Serve more. Do better. But the gospel tells us to begin somewhere else. Mark says, “We get to rest in this. We get to stop striving. Stop performing. Stop comparing.” Grace gives us a secure foundation before we do anything for God.
Paul tells us what God has already done. “He saved us,” “through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Then, “having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.” God saved us. He washed us. He renewed us. He justified us. He made us heirs. Mark puts it simply: “The kindness of God appeared. He saved. He washed. He renewed. He poured out. He justified. He made us heirs. What more do we need? Nothing!” We obey from security, not for security.
Start tomorrow morning by remembering what God has already done. Before you reach for your phone or begin your work, say, “I am saved by grace. I belong to Christ. I have the Spirit. I am an heir with the hope of eternal life.” Then work from that security. Tell your children one thing God has done for you through Christ. Show them that Christianity is not merely a list of rules. Grace has given you new life. As Mark says, “Grace does not make us lazy. Grace makes us labour.” We do not work to earn favour. We work because we already have it.
Father, thank You for Your kindness, mercy, and grace. Thank You for saving, washing, renewing, justifying, and making us heirs. Help us rest in what Christ has done and live each day from that grace. Amen.