Back in May I had a text conversation with my bonus son (I have his permission to print it here). When sharing ideas on spiritual matters, it struck me that our exchange spoke to a key question many have regarding Christianity. Namely, the grace versus works debate. I decided to present our discourse here and let it speak for itself.
*Legend for this conversation – I refer to him as Ston (for step-son). He calls me Smom (for…you get the picture).*
Ston: [I have had a] realization that He loves me even if I’m not pleasing Him. I didn’t realize how hard I’ve been trying.
Me: That is a beautiful realization.
Ston: I am already wearing the righteousness of Christ and God delights in me no matter what I do. I only have to be. Exist.
Me: This doesn’t change the fact that we still try to follow His leadings and laws. It only changes our “why”. We do it because we love Him so much. Not because we are trying to make Him love us. And when our heart turns that corner, we cease striving in our own power and join hands with the Holy Spirit. And we understand our worth just a little better.
Ston: ♥
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2 NIV
And now for this week’s featured post!
The exercise instructor in me couldn’t resist selecting Choose to Walk in Love and Freedom for this week’s feature. Sharon from limitless-horizon.com compares different ways of moving our body to our “walk” with the Lord. I love the many ways of being with Him and learning and growing through Him that Sharon describes here. Hop over to her blog and leave her a comment.
And thanks for sharing, Sharon! Here’s a button for your blog:
1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.
2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.
3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).
We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.
MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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I have always loved that verse from Romans. It makes such good sense to me.
…And you must have a wonderful relationship with your Ston. Good for you! 🙂
It is good. And hard. And challenging and fun. All the things.
Wow, what a precious conversation to share with your “Ston.” I love the way that God brings His thoughts to us, even through texting! He knows how to weave our lives together. Blessings to you and your family today.
Won’t He do it, Bettie!
Thank you, Lauren for sharing that beautiful text conversation! I was greatly encouraged by the reminder that grace is free, and because it is free it draws us to love Christ all the more!
Yes! A lifelong pursuit of loving Him all the more. Thanks, Donna.
I’m so glad your Ston has had that realization – it took me years to understand that. But once I did, oh how freeing it was! I could “cease striving and joined hands with the Holy Spirit”.
For me I think it is a lifelong pursuit. As in “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
What a freeing revelation! Thanks for sharing.
Thank YOU for reading and engaging!
First of all, I think it’s such a blessing that you and Ston have a relationship that invites such conversation! And, wow, what a thrill that he has come to understand that very freeing truth! It took me years to understand that!
Blessings,
Patti @ Clothed with JOy
He is a special young man, Patti. Thank you for reading and commenting.
That’s a wonderful realization on the gift of grace that I appreciated today.
Linked up next to you at Anita’s Inspire Me Monday Link Up
So glad we are neighbors today. Thank you for coming over.
What revelation your son had Lauren!
I’m having trouble linking up in Linkz with their new sign in, though I have done everything they suggested even starting a Facebook account trying to go via that to no avail.
So I’m sharing with the Grace & Truth community this way, my new post is “The Fruit of the Vine,”
https://teawithjennifer.blog/2020/09/11/the-fruit-of-the-vine/
Bless you,
Jennifer
Oh no! I’m so sorry I’m having trouble. I am a tech dummy or I would offer assistance. Hopefully it will get straightened out soon. Glad you shared anyway!
It’s so nice that you and your Ston can have such an authentic conversation about faith. He seems very wise. i love your response to him when he mentioned he simply has to be…exist. Yes, we follow God’s leadings and laws because we love him so much not because we’re trying to get him to love us more. He already loves us and there’s nothing we can do to make him love us less. WE don’t have to work for his love because he gave it to us freely.
He gave it to us freely! Yes! Praising Him for this today.
You had an incredible discussion with your ston – he’s very mature too.
Praying for he and I both to continue to mature in Christ.
What a great conversation with your bonus son. And thanks for hosting!
Thank you, Jed. Glad to have you at Grace and Truth!
What a beautiful conversation and realization! If only more people could better grasp the concept of unconditional love…in either direction. There are so many examples that we have to follow. Thanks so much for sharing this powerful message and linking up with me, Lauren!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Thanks so much, Shelbee!