GETTING STARTED
Grace is something I’m good at explaining to others. It’s easy for me to help people see how God loves, accepts, and forgives them—not because of anything they can do, but because of what Christ did for them. Although it’s easy for me to explain this to others, I have a really hard time applying that same truth to my own life. When I fail (not an uncommon occurrence), my response is to beat myself up and then take ownership of not only the offense, but also the responsibility to somehow make myself right again.
There are two passages that I cling to when I get to that point. Written by King David and the apostle Paul (two guys who had plenty of regrets), these passages remind me that Jesus not only paid for my sin, but that his payment is enough.
READ THE WORD: PSALM 32:1-2 & COLOSSIANS 1:13-20 (ESV)
Psalm 32:1-2:
32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Colossians 1:13-20:
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
RESPOND TO GOD
My favorite writer, Brennan Manning, was famous for saying, “God loves us as we are, not as we should be, because no one is as he should be.” This truth sounds scandalous, because it is! I can’t fathom how an all-knowing and perfect God can love me, not because of anything I can do, or that he doesn’t love me any less because of what I’ve done. There is such peace and freedom that comes from knowing, understanding, and applying this truth to my life
- Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in your understanding of his grace, and ask for the freedom to forgive yourself as you have been forgiven.