James Duff February 8th 2015 ~ For it is by grace we have been saved...

As I write (Wednesday), there is much unrest in the Australian political scene. Will there be a leadership challenge against Tony Abbot or will he fall on his sword? Some say it was his decision to knight Prince Philip that has caused this turmoil. Others will argue it was that he has missed or even back-flipped on several election targets that he promised. Whatever the case, as Christians we should remember our leaders in prayers even when they miss their targets, accidently or deliberately.Last week Malcolm spoke about the vision we believe God has given us for 2015 -Fix our eyes on Jesus and open our hearts to Him. To help achieve this vision we have set some ministry targets that are designed to help us as a church live a balanced Christian life. Just like politicians, we to need to have targets to help realise a vision.  A word of warning for us, though, is not to make setting our targets our vision.Let me explain. Our vision is about growing closer to Jesus, it is about going to him with hearts that are open to who he is, what he has done for us and what he is doing today. Once we fix our eyes on Him, we are reminded of and experience more deeply, the forgiveness of our sins and our new identity in him. It is from this realisation that we become enthused to do the good works that we were made for and to hit some of the targets we have set ourselves.Malcolm today will focus on some of our targets and remind us how important it is to have God as the most important relationship that we have.  For from our restored relationship with God through Jesus, our earthly relationships and works flow.For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10)I’m looking forward to seeing how the Lord will grow His Kingdom as we fix our eyes on Jesus and have hearts that are open to him.God blessJames