20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. (Romans 3:20)
I was raised in an environment where nothing was good enough. The work I did to earn gratitude and acceptance were not so quietly dismantled with a few stressed words that comes after a double shift. The cloud of failure was rarely lifted. Like many, this view was projected onto my relationship with God also. I work, He denies. I earn his love, as a downcast employee earns a paycheck.
And then someone taught me grace
Last night, we went over Romans 3 with the high schoolers and in a rare moment of Gospel clarity, I believe I was able to articulate, at least a small part, of this grace. For the most part, the Gospel is the easiest thing in the world to understand, but also extremely difficult to teach and apply. “So God loved me BEFORE I even loved or followed him?” These thoughts run counter to how we view God.
“Do. Do. Do.”
“I am the master of my destiny.”
“Man’s actions determine the weight of worth in man.”
Yet we don’t see this in the Bible. We see a God motivated by love to a humanity blinded by fear:
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Somehow, in his work, we are safe. Safe to fail, safe to doubt, safe to miss the mark. Jesus, loving perfectly, casts out our fear in order to make a better way. A no-strings attached relationship that we are free to choose, develop, and thrive in. Once we accept this Gospel, then our motivations change. We see God differently, and therefore see ourselves differently. The Gospel is for sinners, and we are the utmost.
Today, run toward the God of grace. You are accepted today whether you give, serve, pray or read. Because of such freedom we have a life abundant. His grace is enough today. Use your freedom wisely. You are accepted.
Matt simon blog 