Putting The Work in

The question isn't how much you can take.  But how much more you can give.  Just when you're ready to quit, your mind says push harder.  You listen.  Sensing an inner strength that wasn't there before.   And suddenly you discover - you no longer feel pain.
~U.S. Navy SEALs~

There is one constant in this life, which is if you want something bad enough, you're going to have to go and earn it.  You're going to have to put the work in.  You, not the guy you know down the street.  For it is nobodys desire but yours, so you are the one who needs to put the work in.  Think about it, if you want money, you find a job and go out and earn it.  If you want something more expensive, then you either get two jobs and put more work in, or you save for what it is you desire.  I've recently come to the realization that most of the goals I have will work the very same way.  If I want to learn how to play golf, I need to put the work in.  If I want to be in better physical condition, I need to put the work in.  There is  nobody, NOBODY who is going to come to me and grant me the sudden ability to hit a golf ball or to run a endurance race!  No, for that preperation and effort needed to get to these goals belongs to me!  How far I go in the achievement of these goals depends solely on how much work I put into it.  For if golf were an easy game, we would see more players and far less frustrated souls out there.  If getting in shape was so damn easy, we would see fewer and fewer overweight people.  If getting in shape was so damn easy, then we wouldn't see every Tom Dick and Harry writing books and making infomercials about the right way to do things, for everybody would be doing it!  It is simply because that we must put the work in to achieve these goals which makes the realization of our dreams that much more special.  Those who celebrate the finish of a marathon or a athletic championship are not being arrogant, for they've earned that right to proclaim their accomplishment.  They've put the work in!  In case you're wondering, not everybody is blessed with athletic ability.  So, if you want any of these things, you have to put the work in.  For it is on the drivng ranges, putting greens, gyms and hiking trails where we punch that clock, this is where we put our work in.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not that of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 NKJV

You've heard it said that our very salvation is from God and not a result of our own efforts.  Holding true to the apostle Pauls statement in Ephesians 2, I will agree with this statement, with one exception.  While it is true that we ourselves cannot boast of doing anything to secure our own salvation, I will add that there is one thing which is required of us.  For if we simply walk along expecting our heavenly Father to bless us with His salvation then we may be missing the point entirely.  For our part, we need to trust in Him who bled and died to not only give us forgiveness of our sins, but the death of our old sin nature.  For without our trust in Christ Jesus, then the work which He put in on our behalf will have been in vain.  Yes, it is the free gift of our Lords love and mercy which has provided us our salvation, but it is our trust in Christ which invites Him into our hearts.  We put the work in when we make that decision to place our trust in Christ Jesus.

~Scott~

~Angels Rest - Summer 2015 - Putting The Work In~