The Walk of Grace

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

"By grace you have been saved through faith."
That "amazing grace" is the very substance by which the Father sent His Son to die on our behalf.
We are washed clean through that gracious love.

But grace is not a vending machine.
So often I've found myself riding from one "grace situation" to another.
I'll ask for God's forgiveness through His grace and then go on with my life.
But as I go on, I'm not living in that grace, I'm just waiting until I screw up again so I can go and ask the Lord for grace once more.

It's the similar idea of "living church service to church service."
Just making it from Sunday morning until youth group. Then just barely making it from youth group to church. And so we live event to event, thinking that God only reveals Himself in moments, not also in the journey.

But, I have found that in the time when I do accept His grace in-between the "fill-ups," those are the most fruitful parts of my walk.

God doesn't want us to "get by." To only live from one moment of grace to the next.
His desire is that His Church and Body would be a people who are perpetually living in that grace.

John 1:16
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

Grace upon grace. 
God is not satisfied with us living only in moment of grace.
No, He has designed for us to live as beings of grace, always walking in it, always living by it.

A lifestyle of grace is that in which we are always looking to Christ.
In living by grace, we are not walking by our ability.

Romans 11:6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Through Christ's blood and sacrifice, we are now able to walk in that.
Not bound by our ability, but walking in fullness of life

It is true, "a righteous man falls seven times and gets back up again."
But even as the righteous man experiences that moment of grace as he rises up by Christ's strength, he also goes from there and walks in that grace. 

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We are all in need of such a grace as God offers.
Do not allow yourself to simply live moment to moment.
Walk on the journey of grace.

Romans 6:14
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Above All, Love

1 Peter 4:8
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

God has called His children to be a people who live by grace and forgiveness.

And when they encounter sin, they meet it with the infinite power of God's love in them.

Learn to meet hardship on the grounds of God infinite ability, not your constrained and hampered strength.

Seek to meet trial with love and hope.

Walk in the stead of Christ's blood, constantly being made new, forgiven, and washed clean.

We don't live righteously by being redeemed once and then going alone.

A beautiful piece requires constant revisions. 

Turn back to your first love.

And take on His love. 

Unity is found in compassion and grace.

So live by the Spirit, not the flesh.

Surrender your heart to the infinite love of the Father who loves you unconditionally.