“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” – Romans 6:1-2 NKJV
Imagine someone stepping into a pool for the first time and begins to swim without any flotation aid or swimming experience. Soon, the water becomes overwhelming, and they start to sink. A lifeguard risks his life to dive in and pull them to safety, leaving the rescued individual grateful. However, the next day, they recklessly jump into the pool again, believing the lifeguard will always save them.
In a similar vein, this is what taking the grace of God for granted looks like – to live in sin with no regard for the cost of salvation.
Grace is one of God’s gifts to humanity – it is unmerited and freely given. God decided to bless us rather than punish us for our sins. His grace offers us salvation and hope of eternal life (Ephesians 2:8). God’s grace is free to us, but Jesus paid the ultimate price for it. He sacrificed His life and privileges of deity to pay the price for our sins (Philippians 2:5-8).
Grace is an invitation to live a holy and surrendered life. It is supposed to lead us into genuine transformation and not apathy (Titus 2:11-12). It should stir in us a desire to live differently. Living recklessly while claiming to be walking in grace is to forget the blood that was shed for our redemption.
Listen, receiving the grace of God demands the right response, which is repentance, humility and gratitude. Embracing God’s grace means allowing it to spur us unto righteousness. We must never allow ourselves to become familiar with it. Let us choose to embrace God’s grace and not abuse it.
Is grace a license to irresponsibility? Certainly not! It is a call to soberness and sanctification.
Bible Reading Plan: 1 Samuel 25-26; Mark 11:12-33