Gracious Living

(1/26/09)

How many of you suffer from a condition known as ‘procrastination’?  I know I still have lapses in my recovery at times.  Along with that condition, I also deal with bouts of sloth (laziness: a precursor to procrastination), impatience, anger (the unrighteous kind), pride, jealousy, and a host of other, as the world puts it, disorders.  We, as humans, all suffer from one or most of these ailments at one time or another.  These imperfections are part of what makes us human.  The Bible has another word for these things, though: sins.  “…for there is no one who does not sin…” (1 Kings 46, NIV).  When we let sin into lives, in one form or another, we must first of all identify it as sin.  We need to keep in mind that regardless of how the world might see these things, they are wrong in God’s eyes (Galatians 5:19-21).  The next and most important thing we need to do is confess: let God know that we know what we’ve done is wrong, and that we will do our best with His help to keep that sin out of our lives.  Then we must make sure to fully accept His forgiveness; otherwise we cannot experience the wholeness of who we are in Him through His grace and mercy.  “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV).

God’s grace through the death of Jesus is the most amazing present He will ever give us.  His grace gives us freedom from the sins that entangle our lives.  “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36, NIV)  I have a friend, however, who believes that people use God’s grace as a crutch in their lives.  I have to agree with him; but, I think these are people who live like hell all week long, and then go to church on Sunday expecting God to make everything alright in their lives.  They have religion, not relationship.  If we have true relationship with God, not religion, we will rely on and not abuse His grace and mercy.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV)  We must remember that the forgiveness of our sins came at a great price, and we shouldn’t take it for granted.  As we continue each day, let’s remember that God’s grace is a gift that nothing can compare to.  “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:6-9, NIV)