Going to God’s House: Day Three
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Day 3: Responding to Grace
Devotional
Why do we sing, pray, give, and listen to God's Word when we gather? Is it to earn God's favor? To check religious boxes? To impress others with our devotion? The truth is both simpler and more profound: we worship in response to grace already given. Our gathering isn't about gaining mercy—it's because mercy has found us. This understanding transforms everything about how we approach worship. In Luke 19, we see Zacchaeus responding to Jesus' unexpected grace with generosity and joy. His worship wasn't an attempt to earn salvation; it flowed naturally from having received it. Similarly, when we gather, we're not performing religious duties to win God's approval. We're celebrating what Christ has already accomplished. This perspective frees us from both religious performance and casual indifference. We don't need to impress God or others with our worship, but neither should we take it lightly. Instead, we come with hearts full of gratitude, responding to the One who loved us when we were still sinners. When worship feels dry or obligatory, perhaps we need to reconnect with the wonder of grace—remembering not what we must do for God, but what He has already done for us in Christ.
And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord,
“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.
And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
- Luke 19:8
Reflection Question
How might your participation in worship change if you approached it not as a duty to fulfill but as a grateful response to grace already received?
“We don't come to gain mercy.
We come because mercy found us.
We don't sing and pray and hear the Word to earn grace.
We do it as a response to grace already given.” ~ Pastor Mike Mura
Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for Your mercy that found me when I wasn't looking for You. Help me to worship not from obligation but from a heart overflowing with gratitude for Your grace. May my response to Your goodness be joyful and genuine. Amen.