Grace Times Tax

I think a lot of us struggle with a lifestyle of accepting grace. I know I do.

We know that God forgives if we are repentant, but there just always seems like there should be something MORE to it. Like to really be forgiven we have to go a certain amount of time without making that same mistake again. We think it is up to us to PROVE that we are worthy of grace.

We have this idea that the past doesn’t really become the past until we’ve gone a certain amount of time being “good.”

Don’t get me wrong, you shouldn’t keep repeating the same behavior. Repentance means turning from your past mistakes and walking toward Jesus. When we realize how perfect He is and what He has done for us, we shouldn’t want to continue living the way of our pasts. But none of us are perfect. We are broken and can only be mended through the perfect infallible love of Christ.

When you love someone, be it a spouse, brother, sister, parent, friend, you want to do things that make them happy and please them. The same should be true with God. Grace is not an excuse to continue living in ways that are displeasing to God. In John 8:11 Jesus says, “Go and sin no more.”

BUT what Jesus didn’t say was “Go and sin no more for 3–6 months before I will offer you forgiveness.” Grace is immediate. No matter how recent the sin, you do not have to serve time for God’s grace. He offers it freely to repentant hearts without delay. No time tax required. Jesus already paid the price for ALL of your sins on a cross.

Stop making yourself pay time for grace. Accept it now. Live it now.

Titus 3:4–5 But when kindness and love of Go our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.