If you are a culture Christian,

2 Corinthians 7:1

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

Paul is reminding the church at Corinth and us that we have promises from our LORD that are irrevocable made from a God who cannot lie and who changes not.  But we earth critters forget who is in charge and this quote from Frank Wedekind is profound; “God made man in his image, and the man returned the favor.”   

I’m fearful that the god of many who goes by the title Christian serve a god who changes with the culture.  When one enters into a relationship with the living Christ, His grace has no strings attached, for God’s grace comes free of charge.  Philip Yancey gives this insight in his book “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” on page 45, “Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.”  In the gospel of John chapter 13:10, Jesus is making sure we understand once in Christ we are secure, and it has not one thing to do with our performance but His grace.  Now the bad news as we visit John 13:10, “Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”  Jesus Christ, the unchangeable God, sees your heart knows all about you even the most secret thoughts and still loves you.  I have no doubt it broke his heart knowing that Judas cared more about money and power than to enter into a relationship with Him, but that is where free will comes into play.  So if you are a culture Christian, how’s that working out, is your image of the God you desire big, I mean enormous, can your model extend grace when your world turns upside down?

If not, are you willing to come to Jesus and share with Him for He is the Father who has watched the road of your life waiting for you to turn around and He will not just meet you half way, He will run and embrace you His child who was lost and is now found?

And all of us who follow Christ should we not desire to give up our hope and desire if they do not line up with the teaching of our LORD?  Maturing in Christ becoming more like Him in our home, our neighborhoods and in the marketplace should be the goal, the desire of our hearts.  Grace is free, but it came at a high price for both our Father and the Son, His only Son, He gave to buy us out of the control of sin.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

--