2 Corinthians 6.1-2 1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not
to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard
you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of
God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (NIV)
Yesterday, my daughter and I had a conversation about
grace. We first talked about our lives as believers, and how we both struggled
with the churchy-ness of church life. We talked about rules and other’s expectations.
We talked about trying to impress others and getting God to love us more if we
did what was expected within the community of faith. And then we talked about
grace.
Grace is a marvelous thing. It is a marvelous truth. It
is something we talk about but have such a difficult time truly embracing
because both man and the devil don’t want us to believe in the unconditional
love of God. Man wants to earn his way into heaven. Satan tells him he can. But
God says it’s not about earning one’s way but about love. And love is built
upon the foundation of limitless, un-earned favor. God loves us because He
does, not because we act in a certain manner.
Love is a marvelous thing. It, too, is a marvelous truth.
It is something we talk about but have such a difficult time truly embracing
because both man and the devil don’t want us to believe in the true love of
God; the forces of unbelief would rather us buy into sex and selfishness and immorality
and call that love.
St. Augustine once said, “Love God, and do what you will!”*
Man and religion think that is simply too dangerous a concept. Man and religion
claim men are too fickle, faulty, and faithless to live like that. How can we trust
sinful, stupid men not to abuse that!? But it’s true – to truly love God from
the midst of His endless ocean of grace, is to do good, unimaginably, immeasurably
beyond what man and religion (and the devil) can ever concoct.
Grace in vain is saying it works for some but not for me.
Grace in vain means I cannot be trusted to love God and do whatever I choose. Grace
in vain is proclaiming the goodness and mercy of God while bound in the rules
and regulations of men and religion. Grace in vain is attempting to earn my way
into heaven – making God love and accept me because of what I do. Doing the
right things. Saying the right things. Associating with the right people.
My daughter and I talked about grace and how wonderful
and marvelous it truly is. And we talked about how astoundingly freeing it is
when we accept in from the heart of God by His unconditional love for each of
us. Have I lived a sinless, perfect life? No! Do I fail all the time? Yes! Will
I ever make it on my own? No! But I know Someone who is perfect and flawless
and loves me will all of His heart despite all that I do. I want to love Him
and do what I will.
Lord Jesus, today is another day of Your infinite
marvelous grace. Today is another day of Your unconditional love. It isn’t just
for the sinner; it’s also for the child and You have called me Yours and You
have given me these things not to be accepted in vain but to grow by forever –
thank You! Amen.
*Thank you, Jim Stephens, for turning me onto that quote!
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