Grace to Sin...

Matthew 18:23-35 (Please click on reference to read text).

We Christians love to throw around the word Grace. It is clear why. Grace is the entire crux of our Christian faith. It is what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion that teaches "self-salvation" through good works. We accurately realize that there is nothing inherently good about us that could lead to our salvation. In fact, one of the first verses we probably memorize is Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." However, do we ever use His grace as our excuse?

This story immediately makes our religious and moral fibers indignant. How dare the man receive such unmerited mercy and grace only to use it against another for a much smaller crime?! Many of us would be more than happy to execute judgement on such a harsh and unfeeling man. However, Hebrews 4:12 tells us that "the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword... able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." If we allow His Word to pierce our hearts, we would be ashamed to realize that just as this man was so little affected by the grace shown him, we do the same to our Lord.

How many times have you not shared the Gospel with someone, knowing in the back of your mind that God would forgive you? How many times have you spoken harshly with your family because you knew that you were "covered by the blood of Christ"? How many times have you slept in and not gotten up to be with the Lord, putting Him first, because you know that He will be there whenever you get around to it?

These are tough questions! These are the questions I have been asking myself over and over this past week. You see Grace is not free! It was freely given to us, but it was not free. It cost the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ HIS LIFE! The cost was great. Grace is not free. We must begin to stop looking at the Grace of God from a "freely given" stand point and more from a "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Ro 8:1-4, 32).

Getting up at 6 am to spend time with the Lord becomes a lot easier in light of the fact that Jesus died on the cross for me! Dying to yourself, not claiming your rights, and speaking with love to your family becomes a lot easier when compared to the cross. Sharing Christ with that divine appointment becomes a lot easier in light of the cross. When we accurately picture God's grace, we will respond through a lifestyle of worship and obedience!

Where do you stand? Will you commit today to not use grace as an excuse to keep sinning (Ro 6:1-2)? Will you begin today to no longer focus on the free gift of His grace to us, but on what that free gift cost our Savior?

Praise the Lord: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19). Thank you for the cross, Lord. May I never forget the cost!