While driving in to work this morning, I overheard Max Lucado on KLOVE.

To paraphrase him:

“We have to remember, that even as Christians, we aren’t any better than others out there… The Bible says that salvation is a gift, and not faith through works. That means that we’re still just as bad as them, but we have the blessing that comes from God. And we need to remember that, and with humility act lovingly to each other.”

Christians often think that, because of the blessing of our salvation, we somehow are better than the “vast masses of unwashed sheep” out there – but when it comes down to it, we’re not. We were born sinners, we continue to sin (often on a daily basis), but — we were offered (and accepted) the blessing of Salvation.

That makes us different, but not better.

I actually think it raises the bar for Christians – our faith is not rooted in our works, but our faith does requires continual work on our part.

James 2:14 —

¹⁴What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? ¹⁷Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

¹⁸But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

¹⁹You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

²⁰But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

…

²⁶For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

God loves us, and offers us the blessing of Salvation and a life spent following him. But if we accept that gift, we, out of love in return, are called to humble ourselves and love others.

Think about it.