The Simple Recipe

“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11 (NLT)

Depending on where you're from, barbecue can mean very different things. In Texas, it might be slow-smoked brisket. In Missouri, it could be saucy ribs. Where I’m from in Eastern North Carolina, we’ve got our own version—whole hog, cooked over wood, seasoned with just salt, then chopped and finished with a vinegar-based sauce. No frills. Just simple, passed down through generations. And to this day, people still line up for that timeless flavor.

There’s something powerful about a recipe that stands the test of time. No need to add anything. In fact, trying to change it usually ruins what made it so special to begin with.

That is exactly how salvation works. In Acts 15, the early Church was facing pressure from some who wanted to complicate the gospel. They were trying to add rules and rituals back into what Jesus had already finished. But Paul, Barnabas, and Peter stood their ground. The message was clear. We are saved by grace. Not by works, not by religious checklists, but by believing in the undeserved, unearned grace of Jesus.

It is so simple, yet so powerful. And it still draws hearts in, just like that old recipe. We do not have to strive to earn what has already been freely given. We just receive it.

Grace is the recipe. Jesus is the way. And the cross is more than enough.

Reflection Question: Are there any areas in your life where you are tempted to complicate the simplicity of God’s grace?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the simplicity of Your grace. Help me rest in the truth that I do not need to add anything to what You have already finished. Let my heart be anchored in Your love and filled with gratitude every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.