Effort vs Earning

I heard someone share this quote from Dallas Willard…and I can’t quit thinking about it.

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action. Grace, you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.” -Dallas Willard

Read that again. Go ahead, I’ll wait….

Seriously, I hope you read that again. God’s grace doesn’t mean we don’t work on our relationship with Him, in fact it might just motivate more effort when we really realize what He’s done for us. However, we’re not “earning” anything, we’re just doing everything we can to be more and more like Him.

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:12b-13)