Do you want to learn how to run from fear toward freedom? God’s Grace is the answer. God’s response to all of our fears, questions, longings, doubts, and failures is simple: GRACE.
BLOG POST SERIES on GOD’S GRACE
Welcome to a four-part blog post series on GRACE. We began by looking at 3 REASONS WHY GRACE CAN SCARE US. It is a good place to start because we need to understand why we may be running from GRACE instead of towards it.
ILLUSTRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
There is an illustration of GRACE I read recently on a blog post that I want to share with you because of its power and simplicity. Natalia Crawford wrote a post for Girlfriends in God (www.girlfriendsingod.com) in which she shares her journey to understanding and fully accepting God’s grace.
I understood the definition of grace, and I understood what the Bible had to say about grace. But I didn’t have a revelation of it in my own life. So I decided to approach God and ask Him to give me a revelation of what Grace really is, and He did.
I want to paint you the picture God painted for me. I want you to visualize it right where you are physically and spiritually.
I was standing on a dirt field. Everything was brown and the field went far beyond where my eyes could see. Jesus was standing next to me.
Then, I noticed a shovel on the ground next to me. I picked it up and looked at Jesus. He kindly looked at me and said, “Don’t do that.” I turned away and began to dig.
After a few moments of digging I looked at Jesus. Once again, He kindly said, “Don’t do that.” I looked back down and continued to dig. Sweat was dripping down my forehead, and dirt was what now appeared to be my clothes.
Before I knew it, I had dug myself into a hole so deep, I couldn’t get out. I looked around and found myself surrounded by walls of dirt. I stood at the pit of it all. Understanding now why Jesus had told me not to do this, I was ashamed to look up and see if He was even still there. I had no choice. I couldn’t get out. I had literally dug myself into this mess, and I had no way out.
I slowly looked up, to find Jesus standing there. I expected to see a look of disappointment or even anger. I expected him to say, “See what you did? I told you not to do this, and you didn’t listen to me! Now look at the mess you are in!”
Instead, He reached down into the hole, He lifted me up and out of it, and He began to dust the dirt off my clothes until I was clean again. He hugged me with the most loving and comforting embrace, with no sign of bitterness, disappointment, or anger.
THAT is grace. God’s complete love and forgiveness in our life, especially when we don’t deserve it.
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S GRACE
Do you feel the FREEDOM in that illustration? Can you see it, touch it, and embrace it as Jesus stoops and bends with love in His eyes to pull you out of the slimy pit that you dug with your own two hands?
BIBLE VERSES ON GOD’S GRACE
If you are still struggling with the FREE, FIERCE, and FOREVER nature of GRACE, take a few minutes to get alone with God this weekend and ask yourself these questions:
- Are you struggling with not being good enough, strong enough, or successful enough? If so, the chains of perfection and worthiness are holding you back. Walk in the FREEDOM that says GRACE depends on God and who He is and not on anything you do. Read Romans 4:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 3:16-17.
- Are you afraid of messing up or making a mistake? Have you tried several times and failed? Do you want to quit and just give up? The chains of fear and condemnation have you bound. Read Romans 3:23-24, Romans 8:1-4, Ephesians 2:4-5, and know that GRACE trumps guilt and shame. Jesus took it all on the cross for you.
- Are you still having trouble trusting that God wants to extend this kind of GRACE to you? Do you doubt His mercy, love, and forgiveness? Do you believe that His GRACE can run out? Walk in the FREEDOM that tells us in Romans 5:1-2, 10, Colossians 1:13-14, and Ephesians 1:7-10 that once we have received God’s GRACE through faith, we have been reconciled to God and have a new identity. He will never leave us or let us go.
Remember, there is nothing we do to get GRACE…instead GRACE gets us.
SONG ABOUT GOD’S AMAZING GRACE
I leave you with one of my favorite arrangements of an old hymn, “AMAZING GRACE,” by Chris Tomlin.
My fervent prayer for each of you is that you accept God’s gift of GRACE and allow it to move you from fear to freedom!
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