Reset

Bonnie Sala: People everywhere love a good bargain. Who doesn't get excited about snagging shoes, a gadget, or tickets to a favorite event at just the right price? I'm Bonnie Sala with Reset.

Sometimes we carry that bargaining mindset into our faith, assuming we can negotiate with God the way we haggle over life's daily needs and wants. We may think, "If I pray hard enough, God will fix this," or in a moment of crisis, we promise him anything if he'll just come through for us.

It's tempting to treat God as if he's a business partner or, worse, a vending machine. Insert prayer, push the right button, out pops the blessing. But God isn't a negotiator and prayer isn't a contract. What God gives is called grace. He gives love and forgiveness that we could never earn or bargain for.

Grace is free to us, but it cost God a great deal. He endured the pain of watching Jesus die for our willful sinfulness. Now Jesus invites us into relationship, not transaction. Much of modern spirituality is shallow. People mix self-interest with religious words, using God for self-benefit but refusing to surrender to him.

Faith in Jesus requires us to trust, obey, and love him. Jennifer was desperate for God's help for her family, but through tears, she admitted she hadn't chosen to follow Jesus. Her plea revealed what many of us do. We want God's rescue without giving him our lives.

Jesus' promise is clear. He says, "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away," and he adds, "If you love me, obey my commandments." We can't bargain with God, but we can come to him just as we are, empty-handed, and receive his grace. I'm Bonnie Sala. Ready to grow your faith? Discover practical tools and more at guidelines.org.