"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come,"
2 Corinthians 5:17
I can remember as a little girl, getting a new dress or a new pair of shoes. There was something about wearing that piece of clothing for the first time. The cloth was spotless, stainless, wrinkle-free. They had that "new" smell, that only comes from the department store. I usually felt really pretty, or now as I have matured, I've identified this feeling as false confidence. I say false because it does not last.
"Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," Acts 3:19
Repentance is not just "saying you're sorry" to God. Repentance is a mental change. It is a decision to let go of the wrong and grab a hold of the right. Its a decision to turn away from evil and walk back into the son-light.
I guess to bring this into focus, grace is something that is so misunderstood. Grace isn't a guilt-trip. Grace is also not a "get out of jail free" card or even the "collect $200 pass go" card. Grace is like one of those cards, but instead of just a couple per game, you get an unlimited amount. Grace merits a response. The response is our lives, our souls, our entire being surrendered for the cause of Jesus Christ. By receiving grace, we accept the responsibility of responding.
Truly receiving grace is humbly soul drenching. To think that Jesus Christ eternally petitions before the Father on our behalf. that because he hold the keys to the gates of Hell we can accept the gift of eternal reconciliation to God. wow.
so. now what do you do? you've messed up. fallen flat on your face because you stupidly thought that you knew better than the creator of the universe.
"So we fix our eyes on not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," 2 Corinthians 4:18
That is the answer. accept grace. let it wash over you. but don't stop there. let it overflow out of you. let it be the source of what you do, say and think. let it be the reason you breathe. God's grace covers us. completely. now go. live by his grace, forgiving others as you have been forgiven. loving others as you have been loved. what a blessing it is to be the hand and feet of Lord Jesus Christ. what a blessing indeed.
cm
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Adventure Called Life Day 201...deeper...
I want to go deeper. deeper in. further than i've ever been before. I want to dwell in God's presence fuller, deeper, longer, than i've ever before. There is this deep desire within me, burning inside my soul, wanting desperately to know my creator. wanting desperately to converse with my savior. but one word stops it.
shame.
the feeling that i've messed up. i've deliberately defiled my body, mind, and spirit. i've taken ahold of myself, yanked my life out of Christ's open arms and lived.
how. dare. I.
who am I to think I can control even one second of my being? Who am I to think that I can do better? that's just it. who am i? who is God? I've slowly been coming to terms with the reality of my situation. I'm broken, worthless, empty with out Christ's life dwelling within me. Its the image that I bear which makes me worthy of his presence. The fact that I bear the image of God, that he created me for his Glory is what gives me hope. It allows Christ's sacrifice and the Holy Spirit to transform and reconcile that image back to God.
so this is it. this is me taking the step.
Lord,
I want to understand this image that I bear. I want to honor it. I don't just want to "believe in" it. That's not enough. You have called your people to HONOR YOU. Not just to believe. Help me to do this in all areas of my life. Help me to confess when I have wronged you, I am thankful for your forgiveness and mercy. Help me to learn from the mistakes and to turn from my wicked ways. I love you.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
again, thank you for your prayers. I am trying desperately to not be ashamed of myself. I will hold fast to God's promises of grace and mercy. PRAISE THE LORD!
cm
shame.
the feeling that i've messed up. i've deliberately defiled my body, mind, and spirit. i've taken ahold of myself, yanked my life out of Christ's open arms and lived.
how. dare. I.
who am I to think I can control even one second of my being? Who am I to think that I can do better? that's just it. who am i? who is God? I've slowly been coming to terms with the reality of my situation. I'm broken, worthless, empty with out Christ's life dwelling within me. Its the image that I bear which makes me worthy of his presence. The fact that I bear the image of God, that he created me for his Glory is what gives me hope. It allows Christ's sacrifice and the Holy Spirit to transform and reconcile that image back to God.
so this is it. this is me taking the step.
Lord,
I want to understand this image that I bear. I want to honor it. I don't just want to "believe in" it. That's not enough. You have called your people to HONOR YOU. Not just to believe. Help me to do this in all areas of my life. Help me to confess when I have wronged you, I am thankful for your forgiveness and mercy. Help me to learn from the mistakes and to turn from my wicked ways. I love you.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
again, thank you for your prayers. I am trying desperately to not be ashamed of myself. I will hold fast to God's promises of grace and mercy. PRAISE THE LORD!
cm
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