I have not resonated with an article (in a long time) as much as I just had with this one, a few moments ago:

http://www.intervarsity.org/slj/article/4143

I never heard the term grace-earner before I read this. But that sums me up a little too quickly. Plagued by guilt, I try to lean on works to live a more holy lifestyle (this was just reflected on in my previous blog post).

Yet, God does not require just obligatory works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2: 7-10

Too often, people cut one part of this out. They either snip away grace or works. But it's BOTH. We need both. But works flows out of knowing God and having passively recieved his gift of grace. We are God's workmanship!! We are the work of God, we're not bringing forth the work of God by ourselves. I sometimes feel guilty because I have not been very works-oriented lately. HOWEVER, I can take rest that God has already prepared something for me to do. He's walking ahead and will come back grip the palm of my hand to take me there!