Grace Is Not An Excuse For Disobedience

God loves us unconditionally. There’s nothing we can do to make God love us any more or any less. Nothing. God’s love stays the same. God’s love never fails. God’s love never fades. God L-O-V-E-S us.

Mixed in with his love is this thing called grace. Grace is this ridiculous idea that God gives GOOD things, the BEST things (his son, new life, hope, forgiveness, second chances, etc.) to people who don’t deserve it—which just so happens to be all of us. I think the most common explanation or definition I’ve heard is “unmerited favor.” You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. It’s a gift. It’s freely given.

God LOVED the world so much that he gave his one and only son so that no man, woman, or child would perish, but have eternal life… THAT’S grace (it’s also a paraphrase of John 3:16).

You’re a liar… God shows you grace.
You’re a cheater… God shows you grace.
You’re an abuser… God shows you grace.
You’re an addict… God shows you grace.
You’re a freaking jerk… God shows you grace.
You’re a murderer… God shows you grace.
You’re greedy… God shows you grace.
You’re afraid… God shows you grace.

Grace = a second chance (and a third and a fourth and a fifth, etc.).

Are you living like you’ve been given a second chance or are you living like you’ve always lived and using grace like Pez dispenser—popping a sugar-coated grace pill whenever you need a dose of forgiveness?