It is so hard for us to accept the freedom that the gospel of grace proclaims.  We are so programmed to see our guilt and shame that it’s hard for us to believe that God is a gracious, compassionate, forgiving and merciful as He is.  We get overwhelmed by the shame that we often feel especially when we struggle with life dominating sins.  We are so guilt ridden that we will often hide our sin, thinking as long as no one can see it then we’ll still be accepted.  Often the Christians that I see who appear to be the most over the top filled with joy are the ones the secretly harbor some deep area of shame that they hope no one will see or ever discover.  For them, it may not even be an actual sinful act… but an attitude of pride where they see themselves as better than others and thus more deserving.  But this is what I know about grace.  Grace is attracted to the most vial part of my life.  It’s attracted to my greatest sin, my greatest shame, my area of greatest guilt and it overcomes my sinfulness by giving me Christ’s righteousness.  Let grace reign in you today.  Stop trying to be anything before God.  You never will get there.  You will always come up short.  Just allow God’s grace to have full effect in your life… destroying the unfruitful works of darkness in your life and receive the free gift of no condemnation today.  Roxie and I love you!!!

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.