Who Dictates? June 16, 2003
"For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13 NLT.
Often in life, we as humans tend to walk through life without a care in the world, or we walk through so stressed out that the abundant life seems far beyond our reach. Recently, I heard an incredible speaker talk about GRACE. This teaching changed my life forever. We no longer live under the law because of grace. Does that mean we can sit back and say "Grace, grace... I live under grace." And do what ever we want? The answer is no.
Here is an example that will bring clarity: You are a basketball player and everyday your coach has certain requirements for you individually to accomplish, as well as team goals to accomplish together. For a couple of weeks you went all out during practice. Running three miles wasn't a problem. Then, suddenly you seem like one mile is too much to bear. You no longer strive to reach the goals and simply say "Grace, grace... I live under grace". Is that really what God intended for grace to be?
When we hear a teaching on great subjects that free us we tend to go all out. We go to the extreme at making sure we are fully walking out what God has to say and then we realize we are abusing it. Grace can be abused. To justify not working to your fullest potential and giving everything you're supposed to, a lot of us say... "There is now no condemnation, I live under grace" The statement is true but it is taken out of context. God didn't give us grace so we could live however we want to justify our mediocrity. The basketball player that simply doesn't dictate his life simply lets his environment dictate for him.
Grace was given to us by God so that today we can live for Him in order to one day be with Him. We can't do anything in ourselves and that is where grace comes in. God wants us to give our 100% at everything we do and trust God to help us every step of the way. Is it fair to God for us to give 50% and the say "Oh, praise Him! I live under grace." Knowing we did not put forth our best efforts. God is a loving God and He is merciful, How often do you abuse His love and mercy?
We live in GRACE! Praise the Lord. We can be free and serve God to our fullest using ALL the resources/gifts &talents He has given us. Grace doesn't give us a license to be a slacker. On the other hand Grace gives us the ability to stand and when we fall grace is there to pick us back up again. God asks us to give Him our best and the rest is covered by grace. What ever you do, do it with all of your heart!
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