There's a story about a student at Cambridge University in England who entered the classroom on exam day and asked the proctor to bring him cakes and ale. The proctor refused, and couldn't believe the young student's audacity.

So the young student pulled out a copy of Laws of Cambridge, which had originally been adopted 400 years ago. And he read, "Gentlemen sitting for examinations may request and require cakes and ale." The proctor was forced to comply. Pepsi and hamburgers were judged the modern equivalent, so the necessary accommodations were made for the student.

A few weeks later, the student was summoned to the office of Academic Affairs, where he was told he would have to pay a fine of five pounds (about the cost of the meal). He was not fined for demanding cakes and ale, but for blatantly disregarding another obscure Cambridge law: he had failed to wear a sword to the examination.

In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel worked tirelessly to keep the written law—but they always failed. And even today, we will fall short if we try to work our way to salvation. That's why grace is so wonderful.

Jesus is the only one who ever kept God's law perfectly. So instead of working to keep the law to the letter, find rest in the magnificent grace He's given you!

Prayer Challenge:

Thank God for the grace you have in Christ—that you are set free from working for your salvation.

Questions for Thought:
In what ways are you tempted to try and work for your salvation?

What does resting in God's grace look like for you today?