Grace or Rules?

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! ~ Galatians 2:21


Have you ever come to the end of the day and realized you didn’t pray? Or maybe you didn’t read your Bible? Have you ever done this and then felt like you were such a horrible person for having forgotten? I actually do this often. I would almost feel condemned for not having read enough scripture or for not having memorized scripture in a while. A couple things to point out about this line of thinking:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 8:1

If you are feeling condemned at all, it’s not from God. We often condemn ourselves or allow the Enemy to speak into our lives because we feel like we’ve let God down. Like we aren’t good enough. I’ll let you in on a secret – we’re not good enough. But it is not required that we be “good enough.” Paul says all throughout Galatians basically that if we were good enough and able to fulfill all the law, then Christ died for nothing. God knew that we weren’t perfect. He understood that we could not fulfill the law, so He sent His son to take our punishment.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 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. ~ Romans 3:22-24

We have been saved by grace, not by the law. Not by reading our Bible an hour every day. Not by praying for thirty minutes on our knees every morning. Not by giving more to the church or volunteering or anything that we can accomplish on our own.

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. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

Then why do we so often, even after accepting God’s free gift of grace, try to earn our salvation? We start thinking we have to meet certain requirements or follow certain rules to be good enough. We even start to look down on others who perhaps aren’t following the same regulations we place on ourselves. Please do not misunderstand me. I certainly am not trying to say that a daily devotion, prayer, giving, volunteering, or any of these activities are wrong. I only ask that you consider your motives. Are you doing them because you feel like you have to or because you are delighted to show others the love that Christ has shown you?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? ~ Galatians 3:3

We cannot attain by human effort what Christ has already freely given.

Open Doors

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'” ~ Matthew 22:37-39

Beginning this next week my church will be starting an outreach program in a local neighborhood. We’ll be helping to fix up houses, talking to people, leading a kid’s camp, and helping out as we can around the area. Part of our Wednesday night service this past week involved praying for this endeavor – for the people we’re sending out and for those we will be meeting there. As I prayed, I found myself praying for “open doors.” The more I prayed, the more I realized that it’s not just the doors of those in the neighborhood that need to be opened. It’s our doors as well. Our willingness and joy in serving others. It’s very easy to sign up to help out because that seems like the appropriate thing to do, but when we come into something like this with that type of attitude it’s apparent to those around us that we don’t really want to be there. People can tell when you really care and when you’re doing something because you feel obligated and it makes a BIG difference.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. ~ 1 Peter 1:22

Peter says we are called to show a “sincere” love. Sincere is defined as “free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest; genuine; real; pure” according to Dictionary.com. We need to serve others with pure love - love that has no other motive than simply to show them the love of Christ.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." ~ John 13:34-35

Jesus Himself commands us to love one another. And if we truly consider how much love we have been shown by Christ, how could we possibly keep it to ourselves! It is meant to be shared with others. I love how He goes on to say, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another!” You can show your faith simply by loving others. Actions speak! Your sincere, pure love for others will show them that you care.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ~ 1 John 4:7

Without Christ, it is impossible to love with a sincere heart because love comes from God. Many people we cross paths with daily have no idea what it means to love or to be shown pure, unadulterated love. As one who is “born of God,” you can show them this love. They will see the difference in how you love if you meet them with a sincere heart.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ~ 1 Peter 4:9

Meet these people with a desire to love and serve them. If this is something you struggle with, pray about it. God is love (1 John 4:16). He will help you in this. Allow your heart to be open to these people. Don’t hold back in showing how much you care about them - this is what makes us stand out so they can see the love of Christ through us! Open the doors of your heart.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. ~ 1 Peter 3:8

"For your first time you truly repent"

This past weekend a wonderful thing happened.  My cousin accepted Jesus as his personal savior!  :) 

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  ~ Luke 15:10

Just a few days after this glorious decision, he wrote this poem.  I was pretty blown away and wanted to share it with you:

As she stares with her scarlet eyes,
Her white face pale with dishonesty,
She finds humor as beauty dies,
And fills the gap with hypocrisy.

You open your mouth, you're voice is lame
You open your eyes, you see she's near
You open your ears, she speaks her name
You gasp for air, for she is fear

Your mind and body are screaming for help
For your first time you truly repent
She touches your skin as you start to yelp
You hear a voice, "your help is sent"

Closing your eyes, you're blinded by light
Closing your mouth, you're robbed of air
You open your eyes to a beautiful sight
He's smiling upon you, you're free of despair.

~ Michael Malendoski