Grace that Works
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 9:2
I will never get over how amazing the Grace of our God is. Jesus said he who’s been forgiven much shall love much. But the thing is, many of us don’t know how much we’ve actually been forgiven, because we don’t know how deep our sin actually is. Often we limit the idea of ‘sin’ to external observational vices like immorality, theft, drunkenness, and the like. However, we neglect the fact that pride, selfishness, lust, and unbelief are so deeply rooted in our souls and psyche that we are blinded to our own weaknesses, and end up shunning our weaker brethren, making ourselves pharisaic judges, instead of humbling our own selves under the mighty hand of God and beating our own breasts in agony over the indwelling sin that remains in our own hearts.
Well, you know once you’ve begun to realize the love that God has had for you - in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly - when by grace alone you have come to the place where you begin to comprehend how much was actually laid on Christ when he bore our sins in his body and died. When you understand that even the very thoughts you’ve had in the last few minutes that are worthy of your eternal damnation and that HE PAID FOR IT ALL - that he drank the cup of wrath reserved for you - then you’ll know how truly sweet the sound of Amazing Grace actually is.
When you realize that total surrender is the only option, when you finally come to the place in your walk when you realize that discipleship doesn’t even begin until you transfer the ownership and authority of all that you have - even your own very life itself - when you truly lay down your life because you realize the wretchedness of self, and when you take up your own cross and decide to follow Christ because you finally see that He is worthy of all he requires of you, going to the jungles of Tibet, the rivers of Peru, or the desert plains of Africa is no problem.
When Christ is your King, truly your Master, when he beckons, you have no problem following wherever he leads. And I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. Hands to the plow, no turning back. This doesn’t mean we don’t fail and we don’t stumble. Read the Pilgrim’s Progress. That fella messed up a lot along his way to the Celestial City, but it’s been by Grace Alone we’ve made it safe thus far and Grace alone shall bring us home!
Christ came into the world to save sinners, not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. And it is fitting that those who serve the Master of the House follow his example. For this is the way of life in the Kingdom - giving. How does a husband love his wife? By laying down his life. How does a woman honor God in her marriage? By submitting to her husband. How do masters and bosses serve their employees and servants? By remembering they have a Master in heaven and shall be held accountable to him. How do servants and employees serve Christ in the work that is allotted to them? With fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, not as menpleasers, but working for their earthly masters as if they were working for Christ himself, because in reality, they are such; knowing that his reward is from the Lord and not an earthly promotion. For this world is passing away, along with the lust thereof. But he who does the will of God remains forever.
The Christian life is marked by denial of self, for this is pattern our King set for us. And by giving up of our own selves is the only way to find true satisfaction - for when we deny ourselves, we have room to receive the joys and treasures of heaven.