Anybody else like to do things the right way?
Live the right way?
Parent the right way?
Love the one you married the right way?
I know I do. I think many of us strive too. We, as followers of Jesus, we want to honor him.
We do.
I would even say with our finances, our health, our gifts and talents. We want to offer them in such a pleasing and honorable way before the King.
But as people, we sometimes don’t. We make mistakes. We raise our voices and lose our patience with our children, we sometimes think of ourselves instead of our spouse and their needs. Sometimes we just don’t do the things we want to do. I don’t know about you. But when I don’t, it bugs me. And sometimes I carry it with me.
Do you ever sit yourself down and have a chat?
“Next time, I’ll do better.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll be more patient. I’ll be more kind.”
“Wow, I should be so over this fault of mine by now. I can’t even imagine what God thinks of me. I’m trying and I totally was selfish. Again.”
And then determination comes in. You will be better tomorrow. You will serve more. You will spend more time reading your Bible. You will do…
But you know what? I really want to shout this truth from the rooftops.
This truth that has taken me over 30 years to understand.
We, as followers of Jesus who have accepted His gift of salvation. We aren’t under the law anymore. The do’s and the don’ts. We aren’t under the law that says when we mess up, WE need to make it right.
Because guess what my friends, HE already made it right. Once and for all. On that cross. That beautiful cross. He paid it ONCE and for ALL.
It’s done. The curtain has been torn in two. Satan has been defeated. And we. are. free.
We are free from condemnation.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
We surely don’t take this gift for granted and use it to do whatever we want. By no means! We live for Him and realize if we stumble, His awesome grace covers over us.
But seriously, if I can share with you. I am realizing that I have often thought that if I make a mistake or do something wrong, no matter how big or small, God is just ‘up there’ mad.
Yep. I figure He’s so mad and doesn’t even want to talk to me.
But that. That is a LIE. From the pit.
He is full of GRACE. For those of us who have come, and have chosen to take up our cross and follow Him. He has given us GRACE.
Not because we deserve it. Because we don’t. We so don’t.
But He. He is full of love and has given us this GRACE. This GRACE that is so beautiful. It’s so amazing. And I don’t understand it. But. It’s for us. And it’s the best gift I have ever received.
We don’t have to live in guilt, or feeling like we aren’t good enough. That we don’t have it together. We don’t need to even be thinking about ourselves so much.
All we really need to do is look at Jesus.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
We don’t need to look to ourselves, but to Him. He is the one who authors our faith. Who perfects it. And it was for His joy that He endured that cross. And sat down. Because it was FINISHED. DONE.
And because of that we truly have FREEDOM in so many ways.
Free from fear!
Free from feeling like we have to be perfect!
Free from feeling condemned!
Free.
Maybe you don’t know Jesus. You don’t follow Him. Maybe you do things your way.
He’s waiting for you. With Him is the abundant life. It’s better with Him than you could have ever imagined. No, He’s not about making sure you are a good girl and follow the rules. He wants YOU to seek HIM first. Seek HIM. And I promise you all the other stuff, He will show you.
As we parent, as we mother, as we are friends, sisters, daughters…we keep giving our best. We keep giving our all.
We use our time, talents the very best that we can.
But we realize. The sweetness of this great gift of Grace.
And we can rest in it. And have peace.
We. Are. Free.
