Originally Posted: Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Mood: spacey
Now Playing: Songs from the Living Room by Mary’s Den
(it’s good)
Topic: the character of God
Currently Reading The Baptist Heritage/Four Centuries of Baptist Witness By Leon H. McBeth see related
I had a weird dream last night. However, that is irrelevant. The question of the day, and it seems of our lives is that of receiving God’s grace. We always tend to lose out in this area. This is the biggest part of my own walk. I was talking to a friend of mine the other night and the issue of feeling unworthy to receive what God has given was brought up. Here is the conclusion. If I don’t receive the grace of God then I am walking out in dishonesty about who I am and who God is. Humility is being honest. Saying I am a horrible person is denying the truth of what God has done in my life. While at the same time, saying I am perfect is denying the truth of how I live many times. You see, grace is the tension that holds us in balance between self-loathing and self-exaltation. I am not perfect. However, I am free, of performance and, therefore, condemnation. I am not judged by the law but I am set free from it. Now, with that being said, I also want to please God not because of a have to but because of a want to. I have a relationship with God and out of love and thankfulness want to do the will of God. Many times I find the way that Satan attacks us is with a little truth and a lot of lies. The truth is what gives us the ability to believe the lies. The best way to deal with that is grace and humility. Honestly acknowledging who you are. Yes, I am insecure and stubborn, apart from Jesus. The apart from Jesus is the difference. Satan lies by not adding in that part. If we don’t believe in the power of the gospel for our lives we will always feel condemned and helpless. Satan’s big lie: “Did God really say?” He attacks our trust in God. “Did God really say that you are forgiven, whole, and perfect?” Grace allows us to walk out in the truth that we can trust God. Lies make us feel ashamed, make us fear, and make us hide as people who are trapped.