Grace? What's That?: Devotions from Time of GraceEsimerkki

I know it’s wrong, but God always forgives

I was trying to do some counseling to help a husband and wife whose marriage was teetering on the edge. The husband had had some of his shortcomings pointed out to him, but he was not interested in changing. Neither the threat of a lost relationship with his wife or even the risk of losing his relationship with God seemed to put a dent in his stubbornness. “Okay, so I’m sinning, but you taught me that God always forgives me in the end.” Ouch!

The grace of God must never be turned into a license for intentional acts of rebellion. “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26,27). God’s mercy should lead us to sorrow, repentance, and a renewed desire to serve and obey him, not be a hall pass for more hell-raising.

When I hear how much he loves me, enough to send his Son to the cross, how can I not love him back? How can I not want to make amends for my past misdeeds? When I think of the horrible fate reserved for unrepentant sinners, how can I not pray, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening”?