Grace or Guilt?

I must admit I have spent most of my life living out of guilt. I should be nice. I should read my Bible. I should be giving. The list goes on and on. The weight of this burden of guilt left me crushed, beat up, and full of despair. Every time I would lift my head to breathe in the fragrant winds of grace, guilt would quickly pull me back to its dungeon. Oh, how I longed to be free, to be light, to really live.

God has a way of wedging into our lives unannounced and often uninvited. Moments of divine appointment have come and gone in my life and I am left with one unmistakable impression from every such appointment - grace! For God to even desire my company is a testament to the far reaches of His unimaginable grace. His love rushes through the door of grace and gently taps on the door of my heart. He quietly, patiently waits. Then it happens. I see Him in the ordinary, mundane trenches of my life. I scratch my head in wonder, thinking, "Was He there before?" Lovingly, God assures me He never left and is grateful for my company, not because He needs anything from me, but because He knows how desperately I need Him.

Grace is changing me. I see it in my relationships. I am more patient, understanding, and quiet. Guilt demanded that I know all the answers. Grace assures me I am loved in spite of my ignorance. Guilt required that I behave a certain way to appear spiritual. Grace empowers me to uncover the secret places of my heart and change from the inside. Guilt crushed me in shame and despair. Grace leads me in love and hope. What a wonderful thing to embrace God's grace and break free from the shackles of guilt.

I am thankful for God's grace, not simply because my sins are forgiven but because by His grace I become a man after His own heart. What greater privilege and calling could there be in this life?

Amazed by grace,

jonathan