Jeff Pokone
The story of the Bible is a story of grace. It is the story of God's work in redeeming and transforming the hearts of sinful people like us. As we read God's Word, the Holy Spirit enlightens our minds and hearts to begin comprehending the depths of His grace towards us.
But there is a war going on against grace. Since the enemies of God hate Him and His children, they hate grace from the very core of their beings. The world, the flesh, and the devil do everything in their power to try to snuff out God's grace in our lives.
The world tells us, You don't need grace. "After all, you're a good person. You haven't done anything wrong! You just need to believe in yourself and treat yourself right." To hear this message, all we need to do is turn on the TV and listen to a few commercials. "You deserve the best!" "Have it your way." etc. Now you may not consciously buy into such ideas. Yet the lie behind them, "I'm a good person," can creep ever so subtly into our thinking.
The flesh tells us, It's all up to me! "I've got to stay on my toes and work hard to keep up in the Christian life. Of course Jesus loves me and died for me, but I'd better live up to the standard of a 'good Christian' so I can be worthy of His love." This kind of striving leads to one of two results. Either we grow prideful about what godly, spiritual people we are, or we burn out from trying so hard and end up defeated and depressed.
The devil tells us, There is no grace. "God can't love you. Look at what a mess your life is. You might as well give up and do what feels good." The devil loves to make us feel hopeless and ashamed. And when we give in and indulge in sin to try to medicate our shame, he gloats and heaps further shame and condemnation on us.
But there is something called grace. It goes against the world's system, the devil's lies, and the natural tendencies of our flesh. But it is very real. It is central to the being of God, and it is found in its fullness at the cross of Jesus Christ. So how will you and I respond? Will we keep holding on to the lies, or will we receive the riches of God's grace shown to us at the cross?
But there is a war going on against grace. Since the enemies of God hate Him and His children, they hate grace from the very core of their beings. The world, the flesh, and the devil do everything in their power to try to snuff out God's grace in our lives.
The world tells us, You don't need grace. "After all, you're a good person. You haven't done anything wrong! You just need to believe in yourself and treat yourself right." To hear this message, all we need to do is turn on the TV and listen to a few commercials. "You deserve the best!" "Have it your way." etc. Now you may not consciously buy into such ideas. Yet the lie behind them, "I'm a good person," can creep ever so subtly into our thinking.
The flesh tells us, It's all up to me! "I've got to stay on my toes and work hard to keep up in the Christian life. Of course Jesus loves me and died for me, but I'd better live up to the standard of a 'good Christian' so I can be worthy of His love." This kind of striving leads to one of two results. Either we grow prideful about what godly, spiritual people we are, or we burn out from trying so hard and end up defeated and depressed.
The devil tells us, There is no grace. "God can't love you. Look at what a mess your life is. You might as well give up and do what feels good." The devil loves to make us feel hopeless and ashamed. And when we give in and indulge in sin to try to medicate our shame, he gloats and heaps further shame and condemnation on us.
But there is something called grace. It goes against the world's system, the devil's lies, and the natural tendencies of our flesh. But it is very real. It is central to the being of God, and it is found in its fullness at the cross of Jesus Christ. So how will you and I respond? Will we keep holding on to the lies, or will we receive the riches of God's grace shown to us at the cross?
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