Learning Grace (Again)

This past semester, I learned a lot about grace. My therapist made a point to talk about grace, my Bible Study was going through Galatians (by grace, not works), and I read through Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity to find that accepting grace is a big part of knowing our identity.

I have to admit that I have been taught grace over and over. Even though I seem to understand it, I always end up forgetting it and returning to a salvation in which I must do things in order to feel like I deserve grace. But that is the opposite of what grace is! It is a free gift that I do not deserve. Not only does God give us grace over our whole destiny, He gives us grace daily because our flesh is still broken.

How often, when we are depressed or in a bad season or things are not working according to our plan, do we say: "I just need to [read my bible, pray more, be more loving, have less fear, (insert your own weakness), etc.] and then I will be [happier, more successful, less worried, less depressed, more popular, closer to Jesus]."

While there are good things to strive for, we need to be careful of what our hearts truly believe before we act. Above all else, the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Are we trying to be worthy of the gospel and God's love and gifts? Are we trying to prove to Him (or even ourselves) that we are deserving? Do we falsely believe that good things happen to good people so if we are better, life will work out? If we are doing any of these things other than to joyfully serve Jesus who already did everything for us, then we may as well stop because it isn't helping anyone to do things out of selfishness or obligation.