Having recently returned to our country of service after several months in the US, we had to do some catch-up work related to the current COVID restrictions. One of those rules was that in order to eat in many restaurants or attend crowded events, we had to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test result. I downloaded the app and took the appropriate steps in order to have digital and printed copies of the necessary information so that we would be prepared.

A couple of weeks after our return, we met another family for lunch in a pizzeria near our home, an authentic Italian place with one of my favorite pizzas in the city. We walked into the restaurant, and, sure enough, the server asked to see all of our COVID-related information. Presenting him the required information allowed us to walk to our table and sit down to enjoy our yummy pizzas. 

It occurred to me that we might view our relationship with God in this way – thinking that we must present ourselves worthy, clean, and prepared in order for Him to accept us and welcome us to His table, imagining that we will be denied access to Him if we have failed to read our Bibles that day or spoke crossly to a family member or ended a conversation abruptly instead of taking the opportunity to talk about Jesus. Sisters, this is not what the Bible teaches!

Even Christians can fall into this trap. “God does command obedience,” we reason. “I need to get myself together and try harder before coming to Him with my needs or struggles.” Yes, God does command His children to obey, much like we expect our earthly children to obey. But just as we do not see our earthly children’s obedience as earning their place as our children, so God does not take our obedience as our merit stamp to enter (or remain in) His family. Jesus’ obedience is that merit stamp that welcomes us to God’s table, and our obedience flows out of our gratitude and love for Him. We obey because of the love that Has been shown to us, not in order to gain (or keep) it.