Jesus asked us to do so many things that are not possible on our own. He asked us to pray for the sick and we would see them recover, tell mountains to move in faith and watch them move, prophesy, cast out demons, battle against principalities and forces of darkness, and so many other miraculous things. The amazing thing is we often have the faith to see these things happen and we don't tell people that healing is impossible, we pray. Even when we don’t see results from our prayers or when they lack real faith we don’t think call those things we prayed for impossible. If we are praying for something it means that somewhere deep down within us we believe that God can make it happen. However, when it comes to character issues and issues of the heart we quickly jump to the abounding grace of God and remind each other that character less than Jesus is acceptable because we believe His character to be unattainable. “What shall we say then? ‘Shall we continue in sin that grace my abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?’” (Romans 6:1-2 NKJV). The remarkable thing is we actually have the most instruction, examples, and practical wisdom on the subject of becoming more like Jesus; yet this is what we have the least faith for. Jesus was a human being just like we are; he suffered all the same temptations and struggles, yet overcame. Yes, he was also fully God but we also have the opportunity to allow the God of the universe to reside within each of us. I am not trying to say this is an easy or painless process, or even that we will ever achieve perfection this side of heaven. Just because it cannot be achieved on this earth, in this lifetime, doesn’t mean that we are afforded grace to quit being transformed. The intention of grace is not to allow sinful people to sin without consequence; grace is an allowance for the things we have not yet overcome either for lack of recognition or for a battle in progress. God’s grace covers more of our lives than we will ever be able to comprehend on this earth, we have no idea how much he gives us by simply allowing us to take the next breath. Who are we then to claim a greater measure of his undeserved grace in an attempt to cover our sin and rebellion? It is only by God’s grace that we are even given an awareness and authority to overcome sin. God is constantly showing us new areas we need to improve, sin to weed out, attitudes of our heart that are wrong. He isn’t showing us those things to tell us he is disappointed or angry with us but rather that he loves us and wants to see his children grow, live, and thrive, all for his glory.
We must quit making allowances not only for our own sin but for the sin of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Often the sin that we allow and extend the grace to in our brother or sister is the same sin that we struggle with. Watching someone else struggle with the same sin makes us empathetic towards that struggle, this is not a bad thing; that empathy should move us to battle not complacency. Every time that we assure a brother or sister that their sin is not in their control and that it’s not possible to overcome, we are consenting to sin and agreeing with death, darkness, and the plan of the enemy for their life. I personally don’t want anyone to be consenting with my sin. I want my brothers and sisters to be pushing me forward toward Christ-likeness, no matter what the cost.
I want to be clear that I am not condoning legalism, which is also sin. I am simply convicted to call myself and my brothers and sisters higher, to be more like Christ and less like this world. God’s grace is more than enough and I am not limiting God in any way; in fact the closer to Christ we become the more dependent on grace we realize we truly are. God’s grace and mercy covered our every sin from the beginning of time until the end, every single one is hanging on the cross covered in the blood of Jesus. I thank God for his overabounding grace, that grace is what allows me to sit here and commune with him and gain a deeper understanding of his heart.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
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