Vegie patch and good works

My wonderful Poppa, Aunt and Uncle made a visit the other day. It was a visit with a purpose. They came to build and dig a vegetable patch for me.

A month ago, I mentioned to Pop that I was thinking of maybe possibly getting a vegie patch to grow a few things in, sometime ready for next year. He took the idea, organised people and products, turned up to build and left me with a beautiful fertilised and mulched vegetable patch.

On Saturday I'll be heading out to the nursery for seedlings to plant.

Whereas before it was a 'good idea' to grow vegies, now I am extremely motivated. I will do this! I will water, I will weed, I will feed my worm farm. The reason? Because my pop, my aunt and my uncle did it for me. Their grace has left me in a position to have beautiful vegetables, if I care enough about it. If I take the patch for granted, ignore it and presume on their gift and their friendship, our relationship will eventually suffer.

My motivation for vegetable growing comes from gift and grace. It's a strong motivation.

Similarly my motivation for living the Christian life and doing good things comes from gift and grace. God, through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, has put me in a position to do good, if I care enough about it. If I take his gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit for granted, ignore it and presume on his gift and friendship, our relationship will eventually suffer.

The reality is that if they hadn't built that patch for me, it would take me three years to get around to it... And it would never be as good as the one they have made. If God hadn't saved me, I would never have gotten around to being good enough. And I couldn't be anyway.

I like the motivation of grace. It's a much better motivation than guilt, or trying hard.