Coram Deo!

I was thinking this past weekend about living the Christian life.
It's not easy is it?
Especially when people misunderstand you.
For instance, you avoid doing some things because God in His Word says don't go there.
People might say you're "holier than thou".
But that's not what it's about at all.
They see us living "by the rules".
Some call it legalism.
But there's a big difference between legalism and obedience.
Legalism means I'm doing this to be forgiven and accepted by God.
That's pointless.
Once we've embraced Jesus as our Savior, we're accepted in Him.
He's why we're forgiven.
It's not our performance.
But if we've truly accepted Christ, we'll know what it cost Him so that we can be fully accepted by God.
And out of that we want to honor Him.
To show great love through wanting to obey what He says in the Bible.
That's the key word too: wanting.
Legalism has to do with outward behavior.
Obedience from the heart has to do with the internal.
The motive.
WHY do we want to grow in Godliness?
To somehow be accepted by God?
Nope!
It's a lifelong "thank you" to an awesome God who loves us.
We're still not perfect.
But do we desire to follow Christ?
Do we confess our sins quickly?
Is there a danger that we could slip into legalism?
Sure.
But I think the greater danger is to live not caring about what God thinks.
So I've got a new motto:
I'm Living Coram Deo.
That means I remind myself that I'm living "before the face of God."
Grace when I fall short.
Strength to make the right choices for the right reasons.