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What Grace & Mercy Are Not...
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6:1
Before further examining the power of God’s grace and mercy, let’s take a moment to define what they are not.
After reading our opening verse, our first thoughts might be: Just as I thought! Grace and mercy only apply when I am doing well and on my best behavior. They don’t apply when I continually mess-up up even though I don’t want to.
No, that line of thinking is not true. Yet, the Lord Jesus’ lavish gifts of grace and mercy are not a license to live carnally.
These twin sisters of the Bible are not like a Get Out of Jail Free card in the Monopoly game. If we willfully sow into our fleshly desires with abandon, not thinking about who we are hurting, whether we are opening doors for the enemy, or caring less about what God thinks, His grace and mercy have limited effect upon our lives. Nothing stops God from extending His grace and mercy, but we are walking right past them, bringing death into our souls (Rom. 8:5-6).
Yes. What we do – does matter. But where our heart is matters more to God (1 Sam. 16:7).
There is a world of difference between a person who could care less what the Lord is thinking about their lives and one who cares deeply but finds themselves entrenched in doing or living in stuff they don’t want. Paul writes the words above before he begins describing his own anguish of not doing what he should and doing what he shouldn’t (Rom. 7:14). Because of his own personal struggles, Paul knows the power of grace. Because of his own personal failings, Paul knows the dynamic of God’s mercy (Rom. 8:1). Both are our springboard to freedom. Yet, there is one thing more.
Jesus came full of grace and truth (John 1:14). In Him, we can’t have one without the other. Grace is His extravagant broad place of freedom and healing, but grace has nothing to work with without the truth of facing head-on our struggles, stuff, and sin. Just as the Lord told the adulterous woman that no one, including Himself, condemned her, He also spoke His truth to her – go and sin no more (John 8:11).
Grace and mercy are the platforms we stand upon. His truth is what sets the captive free.
Why do you think our hearts matter first to God, and then our actions?
Zvinechekuita neHurongwa uhu
When we find ourselves caught up in seemingly never-ending struggles with our stuff and sin, God’s grace and mercy provide the concrete stepping stone to His amazing freedom. Let’s open His Word and find out more about these beautiful and powerful twin sisters of the Scriptures that He lavishly provides, and begin living and looking a lot more like our Savior in the extraordinary life He promises.
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