God's Wonderful Grace

"So just as sin ruled over all people

and brought them to death,

now God's wonderful grace rules instead,

giving us right standing with God

and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 4:21 NLT

What is it that burdens you?  Guilt over past failures and reckless living?  Bondage to harmful habits?  Imperfections that plague you?  Frustration over your inability to do the right thing?  Physical infirmities?  Selfishness?  Addictions to drugs, alcohol, food, work, exercise or anything else?  Lust?  Do you feel you can never be free, that your particular brand of sin or the horrible consequences of living in a broken world is what defines you?  A diabetic, a divorcee, an adulterer, a liar, a failure, an addict, a sinner?

Let me introduce you to grace: God's wonderful grace that sets you free from such heavy loads (Matthew 11:28-30).  How can you be a recipient of such a gift?  By turning away from all these futile ways of living that leave us empty and turning toward the Savior, the One who took our sin upon Himself, dying on the cross in order to satisfy the justice of a righteous and holy God (Romans 3:21-28).  As He gave His life, the penalty for our sin was paid and those who believe are made right with God.  No longer does our sin condemn us (Romans 8:1-4, John 3:18).  We live as those who are free.  And when Jesus sets one free, he is free indeed (John 8:34-36)!

Don't wait another day.  Find the liberty that is found in God's wonderful grace.  In the quiet of your heart submit your life to Him through repentance and faith in Jesus and discover how to approach the One who loves you perfectly as a flawless child, and receive all the grace and mercy you could ever need (Hebrews 4:16)!

In Christ you are a new creation, and in His grace you are free of the old you (2 Corinthians 5:17).  It's time to begin your life anew; your life in the wonderful grace of God!  

Crippling Shame

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, 

but gave him up for us all--

how will he not also, along with him, 

graciously give us all things?

Who can bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies.

Who then is the one who condemns?

No One.

Christ Jesus who died

--more than that, who was raised to life-- 

is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

Romans 8:31-34

The lies float through my head.  You're no good.  You don't belong here.  Who do you think you are?  The guilt and shame flood over me and I wonder what I need to do to be good enough, to prove my worth, to earn my keep in God's kingdom.

Then I remember the sweet words of freedom from such oppression.  You are forgiven.  There is no end to this forgiveness (Psalm 103:12).  While your sins have stained you like scarlet, you are made white as snow through the blood of Jesus which covers your sins (Isaiah 1:18, Hebrews 9:14).  All I see is the perfection of Christ when I look at you;  I see the woman I created you to be (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9) .  Your are well-loved, my child, and nothing can change that (1 John 3:1, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:38-39).  Walk in My forgiveness made possible through My Son's sacrifice, now and forevermore.

So I begin this journey, walking and leaping and praising God.  I have been forgiven (Romans 4:7)!  I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:7).  I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1).

If God has deemed me righteous by the blood of His Son, who can speak a word against me?  Who can say otherwise?  His word trumps all.

Now it's time for me to believe it.  Won't you join me, dear reader?

Let the words of "Drops in the Ocean" by Hawk Nelson wash over you, and believe.  When Jesus set you free, you are free, no matter what anyone says (John 8:36).

Go in peace, my friend.

At His Mercy

"If it's a question of strength, he's the strong one.

If it's a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?

Though I am innocent, 

my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.

Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked."

Job 9:19-20 NLT

Who can stand before God?  Who is His match?  Can anyone claim righteousness?

Job knew.  He understood that even though He feared God and took Him seriously, his best was no match for God's holy standard.  It overwhelmed him, driving him to the depths of despair. Who can stand before Him (Psalm 143:2).  Is there any hope?

Even though Job couldn't see it, God was at work on his behalf, and while it feels scary to be at the mercy of such a powerful, sovereign and holy God, it's right where we want to be.  How do I know this?  Because of Jesus.

My High Priest.  Only the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies once a year and sprinkle the blood from the sin offering on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16).  In this way, atonement for the sins of the nation of Israel was made.

Jesus, using His own blood from His own sacrifice, stands before God as my own High Priest.  He secured my atonement through the sprinkling of His blood on the cross, unleashing the forgiveness of God, for God cannot extend grace and mercy without a blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22, Leviticus 17:11).

This means that without Jesus I have no hope of being reconciled with such a righteous, holy God.  I can never be good enough and no matter how hard I try, I can't reach His standards (Romans 3:23).  Even though God is loving, gracious and merciful, He cannot ignore or deny His righteous, just and pure character.  Simply put, He needs a blood sacrifice to atone or offer redemption for my sins.  Jesus, through His death and resurrection, offers absolution from my sins and entrance into the presence of a holy God who loves me lavishly (Hebrews 4:14-16).

I am entirely without defense before an impossibly perfect God, but Jesus serves as my High Priest, giving me free access to His rich storehouses of mercy and grace.

My Redeemer.  Job lived righteously.  Isaiah was willing.  David loved God freely.  You'd think these pillars of faith would have reason to stand boldly before the God they served, yet each were painfully aware of their sin when in His presence (Job 1:1,Isaiah 6:6, Psalm 51:3-5).  

Coming before God makes me all the more aware of how far I fall short and how offensive are my ways to Him.  In comparison to His perfection, my sin feels even more dirty and shameful.  

Jesus, using His own blood as a cleansing agent, washed away my sins, making me to appear before God as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  Even though my sins are highly offensive to God, the blood of Jesus completely covers them, delivering to me the righteousness of Christ as my own (Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21).  This is not to say I am now declared perfect, for I still dwell in this sinful nature in a fallen world, yet God no longer sees my sin but only the perfect blood of His Son.

I am entirely without defense before an impossibly perfect God, but Jesus serves as my Redeemer, giving me a righteousness I otherwise would never attain.

My Source.  It seems I have to try really hard to do good things for God.  I often believe I must know all the answers to give an explanation for the hope I have (1 Peter 3:15).  If I want to make a difference for Christ in this world, I have to work hard.  Right?

Wrong.  Jesus is my source.  It is only when connected to Him that I will be able to do anything of eternal value (John 15:5).  He is the One who transforms me and works through me, enabling me to speak truth, extend love, and share grace(1 Corinthians 15:10).  It is He that finishes what He started (Isaiah 55:11, Philippians 1:6). I am simply a conduit of His grace.

I am entirely without defense before an impossibly perfect God, but Jesus serves as my Source, giving me all that I need to live for Him.

It is overwhelming to realize my spiritual bankruptcy before a God who has very high expectations.  In the face of such perfection, I see how unrighteous I truly am.  Thankfully, there's Jesus.  Through Christ I have a High Priest who makes atonement for me with His blood, a Redeemer who cleanses me and presents me as holy and righteous before God, and a Source who delivers all that I need to live a life pleasing to God.  Even though I am at the mercy of God, I need not fall into despair because great is His mercy through Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can always stay connected to the Source.

When do I go it alone?

How am I sometimes desperate to impress God with my efforts?

Made Perfect

"'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.'

And where these have been forgiven,

sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."

Hebrews 10:17-18

I haven't been bowling in a long time but the thing I notice about my skills when I do hit the lanes is that my success or failure is inversely proportional to the amount of effort I exert.  In other words, if I try really hard to get a high score I end up throwing one gutter ball after another.  If, however, I relax and just try to have fun, I end up getting some strikes and spares.

Maybe this is similar to my walk with Christ.  In dying on the cross, Jesus did what the law and animal sacrifices could not do: make me perfect.  In this I have His law on my heart and mind, and my sins are remembered no more.  With this power and freedom, there is no longer a need to go through rituals to make me acceptable but I am embraced as a part of God's family through faith.  In this way I can relax and let God work through me, kind of like when I loosen up in the bowling alley.  In order to truly surrender, though, there are some traps of which I must let go.

Fear

I have a cat who loves a good massage.  He'll lay on the bed purring loudly and meowing for attention until someone indulges his desires and gives him a good rubdown.  Most of the time, however, his fear keeps him hidden under the bed instead of enjoying all the attention and interaction he could be receiving.

Fear is crippling and likewise keeps me from fully experiencing the life of freedom God has given to me.  When I let my apprehension to take a step of faith hold me back, I may protect myself from failure but I also miss out on the blessing that comes from obedience.  

Other times I listen to the voices telling me I'm not qualified or experienced enough to do what God is calling me to do, consequently staying in the shadows along the wall instead of getting out on the dance floor.  I may think I'm guarding myself against humiliation but in reality I'm just like my cat, failing to receive all the good God has stored up for me as a result of submission.

Fully embracing the love of God that releases me from the punishment my sins deserve means I can walk in the security of that love:  I'll never have to face His wrath when I live immersed in the love of God.  There is no room for fear when I understand I've been made perfect in this love. (1 John 4:18)

True surrender to the Lord who made me perfect through faith in Christ means I can fully accept His love, giving me the power to let go of fear.

Guilt

The weight of his past bore down heavily upon him, so powerfully that he decided to end his own life.  He reasoned that if he was so evil as to take the life of his own wife in a fit of rage then how could he ever be capable of doing good?  The guilt nearly killed him.

Thankfully, this man did accept the salvation from eternal death our sins deserve that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and he eventually was able to forgive himself, letting go of the deep regret that so colored 20 years of his life.  Every follower of Christ has similarly been freed from the guilt of past sins.  

Feelings of remorse and shame are indications that I understand the depth my sins have offended God. (Psalm 51:3-5)  But guilt in and of itself is of no value except to keep me in the past.  If I truly want to be free from my sins which are covered by the blood of Jesus, it is vital for me to accept the forgiveness offered by God as a result.  After all, just feeling bad about my past doesn't save me.  I've already been forgiven but it's up to me to receive the pardon. (Psalm 130:3-4)

True surrender to the Lord who made me perfect through faith in Christ means I'll learn to accept the forgiveness I've been offered.

Low Self Image

Matthew West wrote a powerful song called "Hello My Name Is" about how I identify myself based on my mistakes, failures, weaknesses and sins instead of seeing myself as I am in Christ.  In part Matthew sings, "I am no longer defined by all the wreckage behind.  The one who makes all things new has proven it's true, just take a look at my life."

Instead of thinking of myself as an impatient, insecure, uncoordinated, stocky woman who has made many wrong turns in my life, I can take on my true identity, as Matthew sings about in the chorus, "Hello my name is child of the one true King."  I am a princess and my Father planted me as an "'Oak of Righteousness' in order to display His glory.  (Isaiah 61:3)  "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14a) and all the hairs on my head are numbered, so precious am I to my Father.  (Matthew 10:30)

Instead of looking at myself through my own carnal lenses, I must take on the perspective of my Father who loves me with a compassion that cannot be fathomed.  I am infinitely valuable to Him, so much so that He was willing to give the life of His only Son in order to redeem me into a right relationship with Him.  If I am that important to God, how can I see myself as any less?

True surrender to the Lord who made me perfect through faith means I can take on my true identity as His Image Bearer.  

I have been made perfect not by my own efforts but through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  As a result, I can learn to let go of fear and walk in His love, release the guilt that keeps me in the past, and see myself as a child who is precious in her Father's sight.  In this way I will live in a way that glorifies God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live as a child of the One True King.

When do I see myself more as a failure than a victor in Christ?

How am I dishonoring God by my own low view of myself; bearer of His image?    

Bitter Weeping

"Then seizing him, they led him away

and took him into the house of the high priest.

Peter followed at a distance.

But when they had kindled a fire in the middle

of the courtyard and had sat down together,

Peter sat down with them.

A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight.

She looked closely at him and said,

'This man was with him.'

But he denied it.  'Woman, I don't know him,' he said. 

A little later someone else saw him and said,

'You also are one of them.'

'Man, I am not!' Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted,

'Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.'

Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!'

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word the Lord

 had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today,

you will disown me three times.'

And he went outside and wept bitterly."

She stood alone in front of the judge with no one else to blame but herself.  She finally came to the realization that she was wrong and she fully accepted responsibility for her actions.  When the judge asked, "How do you plead?" her voice rang out clear and distinct, "Guilty."

There is a time in each of our lives when the heaviness of our sins weighs upon us.  For David, it was after Nathan confronted him with his sin of murder and adultery.  (2 Samuel 12:13)  For King Nebuchadnezzar, it was after his seven-year period of humbling. (Daniel 4:37) In the life of Saul, it was when he came face to face with Jesus, the One whom he had been persecuting. (Acts 9:9)  Each one came to the realization of their sinful core.

I, too, am sinful from birth.  There is nothing good in me.  When I stand beside the perfect standard, Jesus, I am black with sin.  Thankfully, His blood covers my sin, making me white as snow.  But realizing my true nature is essential to my ability to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  

I am who He said I am

Jesus looked at Peter and loved him.  Then He told Peter what would happen in the future: he would reject Jesus three times before dawn.  Peter thought,  No way!  I would die for Jesus!  His feelings for Jesus ran deep and his intentions were pure when he claimed to love Him enough to stand by His side no matter what.  The problem was, Peter didn't know his sin nature but Jesus did.  

Bitter tears fall when I come to realize I am exactly who Jesus said I am: a sinner.  Before the insight came, I thought I was pretty solid.  I knew I wasn't perfect, but I still thought I measured up pretty high compared to some.  I thought I wasn't bad enough to be considered as God's enemy.  Then reality hit and I fell to my knees under the weight of my sin.  I really am as bad as He said I was, I think as I weep at the hurt I've caused.  

The Good News is that Jesus came to find the lost, heal the sick, and save the broken.  When I hit bottom and see myself as I truly am illuminated by the pure, white light of Jesus, I am at the point where I can receive forgiveness.  John wrote that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Admitting my sinful nature is a necessary part of giving Jesus lordship in my life.

I Can't Do It

Preschoolers love to say, "I can do it!"  They have gained enough independence and know-how to realize there are some things they can do on their own.  It is gratifying for them to be able to pick out their own clothes and dress themselves, choose their own snack, and even do simple chores.  Feeling autonomous is a normal part of the growing process.

This desire to "do it myself," carries over to adulthood as I continue to want to live independently.  I like to think I'm strong and capable and enjoy the feeling of depending upon no one but myself.   Then comes the crisis that is too big for me to handle.  The illness looming before me.  The charges filed against me.  The list of bills that stretches longer than my income.  Now what?

Bitter tears fall when I come to the end of myself and cry out, "I can't do this anymore!"  It is then that Jesus steps in and carries me.  God is not a bully God.  He waits for an invitation, a surrender or an admission of weakness.  The Apostle Paul put it this way: He said he asked God to take away a particularly difficult and painful area of his life.  God, however, answered that, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Therefore, Paul decided to celebrate his weaknesses because that is when God's power shows through.  

When I admit I can't do it, I provide an opportunity for God to step in and do it for me, therefore gaining all the glory for Himself.  Sometimes the "it" that I can no longer do is my job, or it could be the ability to cope with life, or it might be my marriage or my relationship with my children.  Many times the "it" that I'm incapable of carrying out is to move forward because I'm stuck in the past, unable to let go of yesterday and it's hurts, sins and secrets.  Knowing I can't means I know that He can.  

Admitting that I can't do it is a necessary part of giving Jesus lordship in my life.

I Failed

I cringe every time I hear the words uttered in a movie, usually from a parent to a child, "I won't ever leave you.  I promise."  Now that is a promise no one can deliver on!

Making a promise means I pledge to fulfill my word.  Sometimes a student promises to do their best in school.  Other times a man and wife pledge to honor and love each other 'til death do they part.  There are so many factors involved in carrying out a vow, many of which I cannot see or control.  If only one of those variables pops up, I'm doomed to fail.

There are two ways to handle broken promises.  One is to swear to do better next time and claim the slip-up will never happen again.  The other way is to admit guilt and ask for forgiveness.

Bitter tears fall when I realize I can't carry out my promises.  Try as I may, I am not equipped to perfectly live up to my own expectations, or those of anyone else for that matter.  As I am faced with my crookedness, I see my need for Jesus' faithfulness to replace my own corruption.

Admitting that I am naturally untrustworthy is a necessary part of giving Jesus lordship in my life.

Guilt.  The word itself sounds uncomfortable in my mouth.  Once I finally come to terms with my own sin and realize the darkness of my nature, then I will be able to see that I am exactly who Jesus said I was, that I am weak and a failure.  Thankfully, this is not the end of the story.  After the bitter tears fall, redemption occurs as I walk without guilt and am filled with righteousness as I proceed down the path laid out for me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can humble myself enough to always keep my sin before me and thus see my need for Jesus.

How do I brush aside my corruption and call it a "mistake" or a "slip-up"?

When am I afraid to look at myself in the light of Jesus?