GRACE-on demand part 4

Does Grace mean we can do "whatever" we want with out consequence?  As Paul said in Romans - GOD FORBID!  Grace is freedom FROM sin - not freedom TO sin.  Grace is freedom FROM list upon list of rules and regulations - do this don't do that!  GRACE is NOT a list of rules to be followed, it is NOT a specific way to act, or talk, or dress or BE.  Oh God save us from our flesh!  We get our hands on something and immediately we want to define it, organize it, control it, make a program out of it, turn it into a "TO DO or TO DON'T" list of some kind or another!!

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GRACE is just exactly what it is.  The elegant beauty of Gods favor and goodwill in our lives.

No more, no less, no program, no lists.  What we do, where we are, how we are, as we are - His Grace permeates everything - when we - as Romans chapter 10 verses 9 & 10 so elegantly put it (thank you Paul for listening and writing)

"IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED.  FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION."

That which God has made simple, why, Why, WHY do we insist on complicating it????  Yes, there is a lot to LIVING the Christian life.  Yes, as we renew our minds to His word, He changes us.  HIM - HE does it.  We cannot control the flesh with a list of do's and don'ts.  I've never understood why we even try, for it only frustrates and causes discouragement.  I know, because I struggled for so many years and change didn't come until I GAVE IT UP TO GOD.  Then He did the work I could not do and NOW I am not only a New Creation in Christ, which I became the instant I - see Romans above - BUT NOW, by His GRACE I also walk and talk and ACT LIKE the New Creation that I am.

GRACE.

Grace did that which I could NOT do for myself.  I wanted to tame my mouth - oh my mouth!!!  My Mother will happily tell you what a MOUTH I was!!!  My tongue was SHARP!  Still can be when I don't submit it to the Holy Spirits power and direction.  I prayed and prayed and it seemed like NOTHING happened.  And then I just simply GAVE IT TO GOD.  Yielded - and He did a great thing.  A spiritual thing I cannot explain, I can only receive with JOY!

As Turn the Tide Ministries has worked with alcoholics, drug addicts and the like, we've seen it over and over.  Men and women struggle mightily!  In themselves, they cannot change a thing!  Yet, the moment they SURRENDER - God does WONDROUS things that cannot be explained, but only received with JOY!
We learn of this phenomena in Ezekiel.  LISTEN UP NOW, CAUSE THIS IS BIG!!!

Ezekiel 36: 25-27
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean.  I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you.  I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and you will keep my judgments and do them.

THAT'S ALL GOD AND NONE OF US.  That's GRACE at work.  His elegant beauty of favor and Goodwill in our lives.

Ahhhh, can it really be that easy?  No, of course it isn't EASY, but it is that SIMPLE.

Turn the Tide Ministries, Changing lives one at time.....
and we are so thankful He started with ours.