Freedom and Grace

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Bouquet of plumeria flowers

God sent His Son to die as a gift for helpless sinners like me. He died to save me from the penalty of my sin. And all I have to do is by faith – which somehow God supplies – accept His gift of salvation.

I don’t understand the hows and whys behind God’s grace to sinners like me, but it enthralls me. The Creator of the universe before He laid the foundations decided to save the humanity He had not yet created in this way. Amazing.

And He saved us to set us free. Not a false freedom like I wrote about yesterday, but freedom to be the creature He created me to be.

I am no longer yoked to the chain of earning points so God will bless me or so my karma will be good. I no longer have to wonder if I am good enough to be loved, because God loves me. He died for me – when I was His enemy – to make me His bride or adopted daughter (whichever biblical metaphor speaks to you most).

When I married Dan, I wanted to use my freedom to love him, build him up, live in close relationship with him. Similarly with the freedom God gives me I long to use to bring Him glory, honor, and to live in close relationship with Him.

That is how freedom and grace go together. I am free to sin, but the truth of grace makes me long to sin no more. I am free to wrestle with God over difficult things because I don’t have to earn His love. And when I wrestle with God I walk away blessed, changed, and closer to God. I am free to love and care for mankind because I am freely loved.

Father God thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die that I might live. Thank You for your amazing gift of grace. Help me to use the freedom You gave me to bring You glory and to love You and others well. May I never forget how utterly amazing, how indescribable, how scandalous is the grace You gave me in Christ Jesus. Help me to live in humble obedience and joyful gratitude all the days of my life. I pray these things in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

 

How does/will freedom and grace change the way you live?

Angela Mackey

Author and Speaker

Angela is a stumbling woman in need of God’s scandalous grace. Through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, she bears the name Christian. She speaks and writes to make much of this God, His only Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who lives in her. She graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and is a Registered Nurse. She also obtained her Masters of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies through Knox Theological Seminary.