I’m so in awe of Your grace
I don’t understand it completely.
Your unfailing, extended hand,
The way You protect me and guide me
and forgive me without measure.
Let me not take that for granted,
lest I fall out of Your protection
as I wallow in my own goodness and self-righteousness.
It is You who can cleanse in an instant.
It is You who are able to forgive mountains of sin.
We do our dutiful works and join our obligatory causes.
Without You, it is all vain.
There is no substance.
So hard to understand that You do not require our works to earn salvation,
in fact You look upon them with disdain as though they have a foul odor
and are so ugly.
You refuse to give them any credence.
Good Works that ravage and demonstrate pride that can seem so good to us.
You look for obedience and a pure heart to do Your will.
Our works are as filthy rags.
While we try to impress You with what seems good to us,
Your word maintains the answers, which have not changed.
Jesus, Your sacrifice for our sins was given so we could be forgiven and rely on Your completed work and not our weak, failed attempts at righteousness.
Grace that has been given to us.
In order for us to remain in Your grace,
we must extend that same grace to others that You have allowed in our lives. Forgiving, loving, exercising kindness and exhortation
for them to do what is right, as You, Lord have done for us.
Forgiving, immediately.
Let us remember the example of the wicked servant who forgot the grace extended to him, who was forgiven, yet refused to forgive.
When we come before You,
You never condemn, but uplift and show a more excellent way.
While the opportunity is not always there for us
to extend Your loving forgiveness to others so they know it,
our hearts must still be in sync with You,
one with You,
allowing Your Holy Spirit to love and forgive through us,
that we may also forgive others, instantly, as You have taught us to do
by forgiving our own misgivings,
demonstrating and sharing Your grace with us.
Scriptural References:
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Hebrews 12:5
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:2
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:10-17
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 3:18
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Matthew 18:23-35
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:8-11