Unrighteous No Longer

Last night, I found myself amidst discussions of what I think about God's grace and its application in my life. I sat and thought for a while to myself about truly and honestly what I believe about grace. Let me give you and example of how my views towards God's grace have changed over the years.

Before I was married to Chris, I had many ideas of what I "should" do for others, how I "should" act around others, and what I "should" say in front of others in order to be in right standing with God. I struggled with being "perfect" all the time. My attitude in my heart was not matching up with all the "shoulds". I was feeling very bitter towards the people that required so much of me and often mad at God for forgiving their demanding behavior instead of administering his wrath. I found it very difficult to watch people blatantly throwing me under the bus and knowing that God still showed them unmerited favor. However, when I got married to Chris, thank God, my views began to change. You see, Chris is a very gracious man. I believe he learned this from his family and practices it so well. If you ask him about God's grace, he will smile and say, "I don't really know why I believe it, but I do, and that's good enough for me." Over the years of our marriage, I have seen him respond not only graciously to me, but also to so many others. His love for people is not out of obligation or requirement. He is not troubled about what other people think of him. He just loves and offers God's grace to others without a second's hesitation.

What I have learned and experienced through my marriage, is that God has no checklists. God does not keep a tally on our successes. He does not care if we finish first. He cares about our attitudes towards the things we do for and to others. When we do out of obligation, we are living by our flesh and our desire to please others. When we live by the Spirit, we offer love without a hesitation. It is too clear to me now when I seek to satisfy the idols of people pleasing in my heart. There is this overwhelming sense of wrong that helps me to see that my attitude is not right.

I firmly believe that when we testify in belief of Jesus, our sins are wiped away and we are no longer the same person we once were. I do not have to look back on the ways I used to think before marrying Chris and believe that I am still that same person. No, rather, Jesus has changed me into a new person. This person is one that is aware of attitudes in my heart that are wrong and can willingly ask Jesus to transform my attitude right there in the moment.

So, I ask you to do the same. If you believe in Jesus, and feel caught in wrong ways of thinking, believe that Jesus has made you a new creation that is no longer unrighteous. Ask Jesus in the moment to change your heart and be filled with his grace with the guarantee that you are made new!