The Gospel - not just for salvation, but for life and freedom.

I am currently doing a bible study over Galatians. I have already been through this study before when I lived in Thailand, when I had to depend on God because everything was hard, when it was clear that I could not do it on my own, when I saw that if anything great was going to happen among the Thai people it would happen by grace and not my performance.

Once again I am brought to that place of submission, the place of casting my cares on the One who is able, the One who is good and true, the One who is full of grace and mercy. How silly it is of me to ever attempt to rely on my own goods, my own understanding, my own wisdom and experience. Who am I trying to kid by acting like I have it all together, that I can lead my family, that I can lead others, that I can lead a movement of youth. I can not.

Grace busts in without permission, just when we are so filled up with ourselves here it comes, a truly beautiful collision, as Crowder says, "when depravity meets grace". Jesus wants me to see that He is able to lead me, my family, my friends, and a youth movement. He is not only able, which is a great big thing, He is willing. Wow, the creator of the universe is concerned with me, even with all my sin stained self. God overflows in love to me so that He can overflow in love through me.

This love is unearned. This is grace. What freedom! Grace lifts up the name of Jesus. Grace draws me out of myself to the greatness of God where He shows off in me. I do not, nor should I , need to aim at getting God to delight in my performance. Pride seeks approval by performance. Grace is free. Love is free. Unearned love is pure and electric. "Grace makes the law of God a thing of beauty instead of a burden."

Jesus wants to move in big ways and among us. Grace empowers us to run the race. Grace will always exalt God. Why would I ever seek to lift myself up and miss out on Him.

Contemplate Grace today.