Grace at work...

I heard a story from a pastor, he had been walking with a man who struggled with porn. When the man thought that God loved him less when he was looking at porn, and loved him more when he wasn't...he was stuck in it and continued in his sin. He felt defenseless and powerless against it. But when he finally understood that by God's grace, God loved him just the same no matter what he did or didn't do...he suddenly was able to stop looking at porn. The sin no longer had power over his life.

Knowing He loves us regardless, no less and no more based on our actions is so important. Will God discipline us? Yes…but does that mean that he loves us less? No! (see Hebrews 12:1-12)  As parents, when we discipline our children, do we do it because we love them less? No, we do it because we love them and want better for them.

He loves YOU! He sent His Son for YOU! He wants better for YOU!

He is the same yesterday, today and forever, just as His love for us is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Lord, please help us grasp the depth of Your love for us today. Lord you know our hearts so much more than we do…and yet you love us. Help us to get that, embrace that. Show us Your grace at work in our lives today, help us to recognize it in the little things around us all day long. Amen!

One way unconditional love...

How do you define grace?

I've heard it defined as "unmerited favor" by some. It sounds good, something we all need.

Recently though I've heard it defined as "one way unconditional love".

After hearing this new definition, "unmerited favor" sounds so insignificant; like when I hold the door open for a stranger...more of a courtesy.

But "one way unconditional love" sounds like so much more, doesn't it? 

I can show unmerited favor, by holding a door open for a stranger, by giving a few dollars to a homeless person on the street. But can I show them "one way unconditional love"?

The same "one way unconditional love" that Jesus has given to me...to all of us.

Grace is one of the most important tools in the Christian's tool box, one of the most powerful, dangerous and scandalous tools. Grace can change a life immediately and completely...for the better when applied correctly, for the worse when not applied at all.

One way unconditional love has no "but's", no conditions...but we constantly set conditions...don't we? In a world where justice reigns supreme, grace defined as one way unconditional love is so much harder than unmerited favor.

Where are you setting conditions on your love, or on your grace towards others? Who are you merely showing unmerited favor and withholding true one way unconditional love?

Romans 3:23-24 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Lord today we pray that you would search our hearts and reveal to us where we are putting conditions on grace. Help us Lord to understand grace as You define it, help us to apply it as You apply it. In Jesus name, Amen.

Given Freely...

Romans 3:21-24 - But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (emphasis added)

Simply put, our righteousness was given to us when we placed our faith in Jesus and we are all justified freely by His grace.

So why are you trying to earn what Jesus has given to you freely?

Are you living a life trying to earn the gift that Jesus gave you? Are you trying your best to "stay" in His grace?

We are saved, but not by anything we did. Jesus did all the heavy lifting.

Turn your focus to Jesus, to the Gospel...concentrate on these things. The good news is that Jesus paid it all. And when we understand that, we are truly set free.