God's grace is not free. It cost Jesus his life

7-15-19
Today’s devotion is based on Romans 6:15-18, “Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey-- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

I am afraid that too many people who know of God’s grace toward them on behalf of Jesus’ death believe that they don’t have to try not to sin, for, after all, they are forgiven. Paul, in these verses, sets that straight. He tells us that that is wrongheaded. He tells us that how we live is extremely important. In other words, purposeful sinning because of God’s grace toward us is proof that we don’t have Jesus as our Savior.

The way we live shows what we believe. To receive forgiveness is to be changed. We have become part of God’s body, for he dwells in us. Indeed, we will still struggle with sin. That is who we are, but in our struggle, we will find forgiveness, comfort, and joy in God’s grace.
Please pray with me the prayer for today. Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, I know that it is only because of you that I am a Christian. I know that if you were to look away from me that I would fall back into darkness. Thank you for your Light as I have come to know it through your holy Word. All praise and glory to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ​