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Grace, grace, and more grace

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. {Just WoW.} Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." ~ 2 Peter 1:3-11

Wow. There is so much depth and fantastic truth in this scripture. I have been chewing on it for a few days now and I just can't help but feel convicted and encouraged all at the same time. Am I making every effort to add to my faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love? And wow, if these are increasing in me-- they will keep me from being ineffective and unproductive. It is so easy to get caught up in life, and to forget the amazing thing Christ did for us on the cross. We should be focused on this daily. What a loving, selfless, and beautiful sacrifice.... and for me.... completely undeserving. It reminds me of Romans 5:6-8 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While were still sinners, Christ died for us." God didn't wait for us to have it all figured out or to have it all "together" before He sent Jesus to die for us. We were in the midst of our sin and shame-- right in the throes of death and destruction-- dirty and undeserving-- and then, only then, in our greatest weakness he chose to show us such deep and unreserved love. How can we not be completely undone by this?

When I think about the power in the sacrifice Jesus made for me, I am deeply overwhelmed. I don't deserve grace or forgiveness, yet it is offered so freely to me. There is NOTHING I can do to make myself worthy. It is in my worst state that He saved me. How amazing is that?

Taking this a step further, how can I not offer that same grace to those I struggle to love? It was given so freely to me, with no strings attached, no hidden agenda-- and I-- I am undeserving. Though they are undeserving as I am-- there is great power in loving them in that. Offering grace in the midst of it all. I am called to be his hands and feet to those around me-- not to be the judge of whether or not they are worthy to receive grace. These are hard truths to swallow sometimes. I find myself often contemplating this and having to actively choose the path of grace no matter how "lit up" I feel about any given situation. The beauty in this is that God has always shown himself so faithful to me. And in that, I have experienced His love and grace at an even deeper level. I really love those times when I am so humbled and broken-- in those times I can do nothing but allow God to move how He chooses and to change in me all that needs refining. Often painful and convicting, those times are treasured.

Jesus, thank you again for the amazing ways you sacrificed for me and all the ways you continue to minister to my heart. I belong to you alone. My heart is wholly yours. Continue to draw me deeper into you-- continue to refine me by your grace. Grow me and mold me into the person you desire me to be. I love you Jesus.

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