It is grace that teaches us to live right, and grace alone.

Here’s the way Jesus has worked this out in my life: Seems I do certain things, with good intentions, that in many cases fall short of excellence, due to my immaturity and lack of knowledge. As I go to the Lord to try and figure out why certain ventures did not turn out the way I had planned, often, He shows me a much higher way of doing the thing, that demands a far greater excellence of moral character.

I see it, yet know in and of myself, that to do what I clearly see, is not part of how I was raised, or known to ever behave.

So, I cry out to Him for GRACE to excel, to improve, to learn, to love, to walk in truth, that I can actually live a more righteous life.

Yes, I know, that position-ally, before the throne of God, I am loved, accepted, forgiven – that because of the blood of Jesus, I cannot ever become more holy than Jesus has already made me. Yet, the throne of God is called ‘the throne of grace’, the place where His power comes to teach me, in love, how to live the moral excellent life I long to live.

Some have forgotten this truth, that God is holy, and they preach a false grace, saying we can do as we please, because God loves us.

Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ

No!

When Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery, hear His words:

John 8: (NLT)

⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

John 8:11 BRG

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

What a beautiful account revealing the love and power of God!

In love, Jesus forgave this woman about to be stoned. If this was all He did, it would be a beautiful story, yet, as Lord of the universe, whose eternal words carry the very power of God, He did something else. He said:

GO, AND SIN NO MORE!

In those words came not only His manifest forgiveness, but also His power to leave her life of sin!

Grace, the power of God, is the ONLY thing that can free us from a sinful lifestyle, the law will never accomplish this.

It is only those that hunger and thirst for righteousness that will be filled.

Let’s pray:

‘Father, I know you love me, and have only good for my life. Teach me to live pure, holy, with excellence before you. Show me the next level of honor You would have me to walk in, and then give me grace to actually do it. I ask this, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.’