Skip to main content

Follow Me on Facebook

Gretchen Mure Rodriguez

The Posture of Grace

The other day I stumbled across some notes that I had written in January about grace. I never shared my written pondering, because I wasn't sure if it was good enough. However, the day before I found these notes, my husband and I were listening to Bill Johnson teaching about the same exact thing. I was so surprised! 

The reason that I started delving into the subject of grace was because I felt like some ministers I heard were taking it a bit out of context. I truly enjoy some of the things these people carry, but I needed to hear for myself what the Lord was saying about it. Yes, we are under grace and not the law, but that doesn't mean that we no longer have to "do" things. (Fast, pray, etc.)  It just means that instead of our "doing" leading to righteousness, our "doing" comes out of our righteousness; it comes from a heart posture.

Where the law said, "You shall not murder, not commit adultery, etc.," (Exodus 20:13-14) Jesus said, "Don't even be angry without a cause."(Math 5:22) He also said that if you look at a woman and lust, you have committed adultery in your heart. (Math 5:28)

Jesus actually took the law one step further and didn't address the outward actions of the law, but the heart intentions! All throughout Matthew 5, He explains it is your heart, your motives that must be pure and led by love.

Galatians chapter 5 talks about things like not becoming entangled with yokes of bondage and how we have been called to liberty. But it goes on to say that if we live according to our flesh we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The remedy is to walk in the Spirit so we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. He is talking about the fact that we are now free to go beyond the law by being led by His Spirit within us! We are led by love instead of law. 

Before Christ the law was our teacher and master, keeping us in action - doing the right things, striving for righteousness. But now the Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Master, keeping us focused on the righteousness we have received by grace through Jesus. Our heart keeps us doing the right things out of our relationship with Him. 

Before - led by the law - accessed by our actions. 
Now - walking in the Spirit - led by our heart - accessed by grace. 
Grace goes beyond the law and deals straight with our heart. 

We don't obey God now only in action; that is the law (religion). But this doesn't mean there aren't actions! We obey God now because of love (grace). It is the love of Christ that compels us! (2 Cor 5:14)

We still make it our aim to be well-pleasing to Him. We will still be judged by things we do - good or bad. (2 Cor 5:9-10) The difference is we are motivated by love! The message of grace goes deeper, it isn't an excuse to stop "doing", it just examines our motivation behind it. 
This is the message of grace!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You Are God's Mastepiece

Today's article is an excerpt from my book, Prayers on Fire , which I wrote with Brian Simmons. I pray it's a blessing to you. ~Gretchen    I’m mesmerized; awestruck over the beauty of your creation. The evidence of your creative genius streams from the heavens with glory. All of earth echoes your name. There is no denying that you are the Master Artist who set before us your most beautiful works of art.  The moon and stars are dazzling, brilliantly glowing against the night sky like jewels mounted in their settings. Still, I’m awed by something even more splendid than the wonders I see above. God, though you’re famous—great and powerful— you know me by name and call me your child. I am your masterpiece. My Father, whose name is known throughout the universe, you have created me to be just like you. Filled with glory, I’ll shine in the darkness, illuminating the world with your splendor and compassion. Crowned with majesty, I’ll stand in authority ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Making Peace with Catholicism...and Other Religions

I remember it clearly - watching a reel-to-reel movie in Sister Patricia's second grade class. Although I don't remember why the girl in the movie was crying, I do remember the affect it had on me. My heart was gripped by the fact that I wanted to know God more. The church was close to our home and I liked to hangout there, hoping to find God. One of the priests found it so odd, he phoned my Mom to let her know I couldn't be there everyday. Guess I looked a bit like a 7 yr. old hoodlum with my pigtails and missing teeth. In the eighteen years I grew up in Catholicism, no one ever taught me the deep spiritual truths of knowing God. All I knew was to attend mass, say my prayers, and take communion. And I did - until I visited a "non-denominational" church and felt God's presence for the first time. I was wrecked - in a good & bad way. Not only did I find what I had been looking for, I also became judgmental towards the Catholic religion. They had le...
6 comments
Read more

Parenting Messes & Victories- No Domestic Foo Fooey'ness Included!

We've been looking at different ways we encounter God. Today however, I want to talk about parenting. (You know, when I think about it, God actually has used my daughters many times to speak to me and to teach me a great deal about His love. I have encountered Him through my kids countless times!) A few weeks ago I met one of the leaders at the Youth group in which two of my girls attend. She asked me what I did to raise girls so in love with the Lord and told me I should write a book about it. I smiled, but thought, "Oh if you only knew! It hasn't been me, it's been all God." No false humility about it. I'm as shocked as anyone. Our daughters are 20, 18, and 15, and while I am incredibly amazed by their relationship with the Lord, I have no thoughts of writing a book on parenting. Today I only want to offer you my testimony. No sugar coating, no stories of home baked cookies, and domestic foo fooey'ness, but just a very candid look at our journey and...
Post a Comment
Read more