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b'Imagine you\\u2019re in a superstore full of what the Bible calls \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153good works\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\u2014all the things you\\u2019ve been told you need to be as a Christian. \\u201cKind\\u201d\\u2026\\u201dhelpful\\u201d\\u2026\\u201dloving\\u201d\\u2026\\u201dalways willing to bring potato salad to the church potluck.\\u201d You\\u2019ve been hearing how you need to be these things all your life\\u2014from your parents, teachers, pastors\\u2014 so you decide it\\u2019s time to get on it. You\\u2019ve got some shopping to do.\\nFirst, the grocery section. The Christian life displays the fruit of the Spirit\\u2014 patience, kindness, self-control, and all the rest. Easy peasy, they\\u2019re all right there\\u2014and since they\\u2019re always in season, they\\u2019re also on sale! You throw them in the cart. (Better toss some stuff to make potato salad in there too while you\\u2019re at it.)\\nNext, home improvement. A welcoming attitude and encouraging words to say. A loving heart that always responds with a soft, gentle answer (even in conversations with THAT family member). Oh, and a cute wooden plaque with a verse on it to hang inside your front door. Score!\\nLast stop\\u2014apparel. The Bible says to clothe ourselves with humility and compassion. And a pair of apostle-like strappy sandals adds a nice touch!\\nYour cart is overflowing with goodness, so it\\u2019s time to hit the checkout lane. You scan your items, and the payment amount flashes across the screen. You swipe your card. \\u201cDenied.\\u201d\\nYou try your card again, but the payment won\\u2019t go through. You glance at the people in line behind you, then turn back to the screen. That\\u2019s when you see a sign in big red letters: \\u201cOnly payment cards registered to Jesus Christ accepted.\\u201d You look down at your payment card, your face growing hot. It has your name on it. Not His.\\nAn attendant appears out of nowhere and whisks your items from their bags. You look longingly at all that goodness as it\\u2019s piled onto a restocking cart. Then you try to avoid the stares boring into you as you walk to the door empty-handed. \\u2022 Courtney Lasater\\n\\u2022 Are you trying to be a \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153good Christian\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d all on your own? Are you more concerned about others seeing you as a Christian than actually having a relationship with Jesus? \\n\\u2022 Read Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3:12. Why is it impossible to do good in our own power? \\n\\u2022 Read 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Galatians 2:16. Where does goodness come from? \\nFor it is by grace you have been saved, through faith\\u2014and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nJohn 1:9-14; Hebrews 4:14-16'