Today I’m participating in Five Minute Friday, a writing community that freewrites for five minutes on a prompt. No editing. I’m going to try my darndest to actually do just that. Today’s prompt: Excuse.
Look Up Sometimes’ new tagline is: nurturing Son-followers to embrace grace.
I’ve been studying in Romans and realizing that grace is not an optional warm fuzzy – it’s the only force powerful enough to conquer condemnation.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Romans 5:8-10
Therefore, grace is a lifeline.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! Galatians 2:21
Therefore, we are without excuse. God has done everything we need – all I have to do is accept the gift of grace He offers and unwrap it!
Therefore, I am empowered. Because all the resources I’ve been given come with God’s guarantee.
Cheri Schuelke was the children’s supervisor in my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class a long time ago when I was a children’s leader. She took me out to Dunkin’ Donuts to fill me in, when I first entered leadership, and I commented how long of a commute she had, twice a week.
She responded with a statement I hope I’ll never forget. I know I’ve probably shared this in the past, but it’s worth repeating:
.
“There is no excuse I can give God to tell Him he’s not worth it; and anyway, the blessings are all mine.”
Update: Yee-haw! I did it! (If it’s not cheating I jotted a couple notes ahead of time and corrected one misspelling.)
Now – if anything doesn’t make sense, tell me in the comments so I can explain! 🙂
Pearl, I love this piece and your friend’s comment.
I am reading Sheila Walsh’s book about living in the middle of the mess. (I think that is the actual book title but I’m not positive, and I’m not going to take the time right now to go look.) Sheila emphasizes the difference between conviction and condemnation.
We sometimes get it into our heads that we haven’t truly been convicted of our sin until we practice “adequate” self-condemnation–lasting sometimes for years! How insulting that must be to our God who freely gave grace so we could freely receive it.
Thanks for your continual reminders to Look Up!
Debbie – thank you, sweet friend. Would you recommend the Sheila Walsh book? I read a snippet about that book, and it looked interesting. I’m so grateful God doesn’t ask us to beat ourselves up, either!
I have barely begn this study, Pearl, but so far, so good!
I love your writings as always. I especially like the comment from Cheri. How true!
The sunflower on the ground spoke to me that even those who are cast down still have their face turned to God. Looking to Him. Thank you for sharing dear Pearl.
Sweet Kathy! Taking time to comment while you’re away! May you have a blessed time marked with the joyful awareness of God’s nearness.
I am a thief. I stole this photo. I am just so struck by it. Sunflowers follow the sun. The flower practically laying on the ground speaks to my heart…. Was it knocked down? If so, its still looking for the sun. Or, was it having difficulty finding the sun in the crowd so it took a lower, less glamorous path, reaching where no others did so that it could find more sun?
How would my life be different if I lived with such purpose? Get out of the crowd so that I can focus on the Son? Even if I am the only one. Or, when life knocks me down, am I looking to the Son?
Thank you, Pearl, for the simple sermon in this photograph.
The story of this sunflower was that it was knocked down. It just wasn’t as strong as the others, I guess. Maybe that’s why I was so taken with it – I root for the underdog (and I consider myself one). I didn’t know if it would make it or not. But you can see how it ended up. 🙂 I’m so glad someone saw what I did and valued it, also. You made my day, Lerita. Steal away! 😉
Very true! Praise the Lord!
Praising Him with you, Michelle!
Great minds think alike, I guess, and I agree with Annette…”grace is not an optional warm fuzzy” is brilliant.
And yes, grace is indeed a lifeline, and the only one we have.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/11/your-dying-spouse-406-precious.html
Andrew, thanks so much for stopping by! Glad you found something of value here. Heading over to visit your blog!
oh… I really like this line: grace is not an optional warm fuzzy – it’s the only force powerful enough to conquer condemnation.
That statement makes me glad I stopped in. 🙂
So glad you were encouraged, Annette. Thanks for stopping by.