Day 19: Legalism

Application

Are you focused on yourself and what you are doing for God? Are you a conviction junkie, always wanting to know what you need to do to please God, but never looking to Christ’s finished work which made you pleasing to Him? Do you resist grace, always wanting to pay your own way and earn everything you get? Repent of your pride and return to the foot of the cross to remember the supernatural love with which you have been loved. See the nail-pierced hands, feet, and side of Jesus pouring the blood that atoned for your sins. Receive the payment of your sin debt and embrace your freedom in Jesus. Stop working for the love and acceptance of Jesus and start living in the love and acceptance He purchased for you. Grace abounds to you today, dear friend. Receive it and be raised to walk in God’s love!
Do you judge others harshly? Are you unable to rejoice in the mercy of God towards sinners? Do you look down on others for their past or current sins or struggles? Look to Jesus and His cross and remember that Jesus paid for your sin with His precious blood. Everything you have, righteousness included, was given to you by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Humble yourself in the love of Jesus and embrace His grace that loves others and wants them to know and experience all the joy and love of belonging to the body of Christ. Don’t fall from grace, fall into grace, dear friend.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:4-5 NIV

How does looking to Jesus keep you from falling from grace today?

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Mike L. writes, "Apart from Jesus I am nothing, my righteousness is as filthy rags before a Holy God. In Christ I have everything I could ever need, He is my righteousness, my justification, but it's not even that it's the love I see when I look to the cross, His unbelievable humility, I mean this is the King of everything laying His life down for me, and I deserved nothing but hell and damnation. This world tells us we need to earn everything we get, which is why God's grace is so mind-boggling, yet it is truly what changes a person from a blasphemous sinner to a worshiper of the most high God. Thank you Lord Jesus for your unending grace toward me, may I never abuse it or take it for granted, in Your Holy, Beautiful and Precious Name!"
Sophia writes, "The only way to keep from falling from grace is to keep sight of the cross where grace abounds and love wins! It's impossible to NOT see Christ's love when he laid himself down on the cross for me (I JOHN 3:16). The pity he took on me (Matt 18:27). God help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, to realize that there is nothing good in me, but all perfection is found in you. Keep me humble and away from the pride that tells me that I am good in an of myself. I am only righteous because you look at me and see Jesus!"
Kevin writes, "Looking to Jesus helps me see the great debt for which I was forgiven. When I humbly recognize that Christ took my sins and gave me His righteousness, I am filled with joy and compassion for others. Condemnation goes out the window along with being judgmental, self-righteous, or thinking I can earn grace."
Wendy writes, "I am not sure. I think I’m struggling with this concept. I know intellectually that God loves me and died for me; but sometimes or a lot of the time; I have a hard time feeling His love or truly believing it at a heart level. These bible studies are helping me to change that. I’m starting to get to know some of God’s ways better. I pray that He shows himself to me in scripture clearly. I pray that He penetrates my heart and mind and soul so clearly and strongly that I can simply bask in His love. I know that His perfect love has been driving out all my fears. He is changing me. It’s sometimes very slow; but it is happening."
Looking to Jesus