Embrace Grace!

I received my Hillsong DVDs last night. I guzzled down the first two sessions by Robert Barriager and Judah Smith. Although it was the 2nd time I heard Judah's preaching, it still blew me away. It simply convinced me about my standing as a child of God and inspired me to keep serving Him.

You were never son by worth. You are son by Birth!
Today, Elissa told me of the comments that someone put in her tagboard. Someone was trying to plant condemnation in her mind. But praise God for His Grace!! His sacrifice on the cross means that we can leave all that rubbish behind and run towards the goal. Praise God that perfection is placed on us. Praise God that when God looks at us, all He sees is the blood of Jesus spilt for our shortcomings and flaws. Oh isn't it true that those who have been forgiven much will love much!

Why have we painted such an ideal picture of Christians? What is the difference between Believers and Non-Believers? Simply acceptance of Grace? Simply accepting the invitation to approach God. My desire to serve my God does not come from self-discipline or self-sacrifice. My character is far from those traits. My character is laid-back and non-chalent. Yet when I see love poured out for me, when I see such compassion despite my ugliness and my darkness, I long to have more of the Light. I become passionate for His cause and I become desperate for His presence. And in His presence, I have all I need. Literally.

There are 3 types of people. Those who ridicule Grace, those who misuse Grace, and those who embrace Grace. I think those who misuse Grace and those who embrace Grace appear to be similar at first. Both of these people take advantage of Grace. But in the long run, those who embrace Grace will start to bring forth fruit because they allow change to come in their lives and because they focus on Jesus, not on the number of chances they've been given.

Grace is not about the number of chances you have. Jesus taught his disciples to keep forgiving because they would be imitating perfection in doing so. They would be imitating God's infinite forgiveness. Grace is infinite opportunity to learn. Grace is Jesus calling out, "Forgive them, Father!" (Luke 23:34) and then stating the reply that He heard from the Father, "It is finished!" (John 19:30)