Drawing on the Grace of God Now

     From My Utmost for His Highest
We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain —2 Corinthians 6

Chambers talks about prayer, and we had a good discussion of that a few weeks back in the Friendship with God post. But I've found no better way to understand the poverty of my spirit than this. Consider this excerpt from A Rooster Once Crowed:

Of all the things Jesus taught us, there is the one thing that He could not model for us—this was His one prescriptive action. It was so important that it defined the ministry of John the Baptist and was a central theme of the ministry of Jesus Christ. It was . . .

Repentance.

A perfect life in communion with God was Jesus’ greatest achievement and also the reason that the cross was so difficult to bear. In our lives, we walk daily—apart from God—and wonder why we lack peace. I’ve told of the power that repentance has had in my life [see Will I Bring Myself Up to This Level blog post], but all revival began with earnest repentance.

All of us stand filthy in front of God, but our belief in Jesus makes us clean.

From there, true, genuine repentance for our sin is the straightest path home along a highway called righteousness. Failure to repent is an act of war against God. But wouldn’t it be just like Him to put the keys to a kingdom within the reach of a child or a soldier lying wounded on a battlefield or a father searching for a place for his family to sleep?

We are forgiven for our transgressions through the blood of Jesus, but there is something about the humility required to repent for sin that reveals the presence of God. For me, the additional cost of doing it in front of others adds sacrifice, and every time I repent in front of men, God shows regard for my sacrifice [see All or Nothing blog pose with probably the best Rooster photo ever].

Repentance—literally meaning to change your mind and go the other way—brings redemption, justice and rightness within the world. There really isn’t a downside, so long as it is true. But don’t let that definition throw you. The physical activity of repentance is pleasing to God.

Don’t wait. 

EXCERPTED FROM A Rooster Once Crowed: A Commentary on the Greatest Story Ever Told (without sixteen linked Scripture provided in the book), Afterword-Questions from the Front (pgs. 191-193). AVAILABLE FORMATS are linked at Full Porch Press.

Jesus couldn't repent because He was Him who knew no shame. Often times, I'm nothing but. Except for Jesus. I'm never getting into this party, except for, "I'm with Him."

I love you.

#questionsfromthefront