[ From Walk with ME by Tom Grassano ]

I had the privilege of leading the chapel ministry for my son’s university hockey team. In our first meeting with 12 of the players, I asked each to share three things about themselves the others did not know. It was an entertaining way to break the ice and get to know each other.

I was the last one to share three things they did not know about me: I have a doctorate in music and once performed for President Ronald Reagan and, on a separate occasion, for Barbara Bush. I have Level 4 coaching certification with USA Hockey. I hate religion and the One whom I serve hates religion, too.

The last statement caused their eyes to open widely in bewilderment as if saying, “How can someone who has dedicated his life to ministry hate religion?”

I asked what religion means to them. They responded that religion is a tradition they occasionally participate in, mostly out of respect, but it does not relate to their world. They also shared it has not made a difference in their lives, and they were not driven to pursue it.

My response to them was simple: my Jesus did not suffer and die for that. He did not suffer and die for us to be entertained, motivated by an inspiring speaker, or bored to sleep with irrelevant words that make no impact on our lives. Nor did He suffer and die so that we can spend our lives trying to be good enough.

We can never be good enough.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul the Apostle said, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done…” Not a reward for our works? That’s really good news!

Paul continues in verse 10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

That’s good news.

Jesus came to this earth with a message that opposes our culture in a multiplicity of ways. His life and teachings challenge us to love our neighbors as ourselves and place the needs of others above our own. He says that the greatest in the kingdom of God is the servant of all.

Then He takes us deeper into issues of our hearts. He instructs us to love those who hate us. Forgive those who have injured us. Pray for those who persecute us. Have the same attitude of Jesus who took the form of a servant. Then go and make an eternal difference in this world.

Then Jesus did what no one expected. He took the form of the lowest servant, placed the curse of the sin of the entire world – including yours and mine – on his shoulders, and sacrificed His sinless life as the punishment for our sin. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, He took the keys of sin, death and hell from Satan himself and rose from the dead with life for all who believe.

The things that Jesus tells us to do are not possible without divine help, but they are with Jesus in us. They become the fruit of an eternal change from within. This change, rooted in belief in Jesus and a commitment to follow His ways, does not invite us into a Western tradition or a boring religion. It invites us into a heart-change that explodes with joy. It destroys the power of sin and shame and replaces them with peace, hope, overflowing love and life – the greatest life here and the greatest life to come.It invites us to walk with Jesus discovering every day that He is alive, He is relevant, He is patient, He is gentle, He is all-powerful, He is wise, He is Healer, He is Savior, and He is friend, the greatest and most faithful friend we will ever have.

We hear this and wonder, what must we do to receive all of this? The remarkable truth is that we just need to do one thing: believe.

That is really good news.

Lord, for anyone reading this who wants to live life to the fullest and be free of the curse of sin and shame, come to them now. Let them feel Your love embracing them. Wash away the bitter tastes that life can bring. Fill every empty space with all that You are. Become the Lord of their lives. Walk with them down the pathway You have prepared, one of discovery, purpose and eternal joy. Surround them with Your peace. Carry the weight of their troubles. Show them who You are.

“To all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).