Sunday Scripture
The word grace conjures images of unconditional love, forgiveness, and a free pass for whatever I bring to the table, and there’s truth in this. However, in the closing words of his first letter, Peter has woven together two very different colors and textures of yarn:
…this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
1 Peter 5:12
At first reading, stand firm reads like the polar opposite of grace!
Grace is shoving over to make room on the comfy couch, offering a cozy blanket and a mug of tea.
Stand firm requires a straight spine and sensible shoes for a long day of attentiveness.
Stand firm requires sinewy obedience.
Impetuous Peter had received lots of grace from his Savior and Master. Grace extended after his denial of Christ gave him new hope, and Peter continued to set his “hope fully in the grace…brought…at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 5:13). He knew that every good work his hands found to do would come through grace.
Without True Grace, There Is NO Standing Firm
Peter conveys God’s true grace in his letter to struggling and persecuted Christians, knowing full well that their standing firm would be costly. He knew that without God’s true grace, there would be no standing firm. In this short and simple verse, Jesus’s fisherman follower diffuses all the tension between grace and works:
True grace is not the opposite of obedience.
True grace empowers obedience.
“…this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.” (1 Peter 5:12)
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Without God’s true grace, there is no standing firm.
God’s extended grace pardons sin, and it is the basis for God’s extravagant forgiveness.
It is also the means by which we serve and persevere in righteousness, in saying “no” to sin and “yes” to God.
Where do you most need TRUE GRACE to empower obedience in your life?
I look forward to interacting in the comments below because I am definitely a grace-dependent woman!
Holding you in the light,
True grace is not the opposite of obedience.
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True grace empowers obedience.
The new issue of Joyful Life Magazine can now be pre-ordered, and it includes an article from me! Look for “If I’m Already Forgiven, Why Do I Need to Confess My Sins?” Too, my friend Sue Moore Donaldson is sharing her thoughts on spiritual growth. The fall print publication will orient our gaze toward the beautiful growth and change that the Lord is working in our hearts and our homes.
Best of all, the first 100 to pre-order will receive some special bonus gifts.
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Living Our Days 
It is only by God’s grace that we can stand firm in the Lord, Michele. Thanks for the Sunday inspiration!
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I love the paradox, too, Martha!
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Love that your post has Grace as another this morning was on Hope. Hope and Grace. Great positive way to start my week. Thanks. Hugs
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I read that post on hope, too. Great thoughts!
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We’re so unbelievably blessed with the grace of God’s forgiveness, but we often forget that grace enables obedience as well. I’m trying to remember to start each day telling God (more as a reminder to myself, but also an acknowledgement and a prayer) that I am depending on His grace for the day.
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Oh, I like that spiritual practice!
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Michele, So true. Grace is not a free pass to continue doing what we want. Part of grace is realizing the gift it is and wanting to walk more in obedience. Grace can have firmness to it, and not be wishy-washy. Great thoughts that have my mind thinking. (Your photo looks like one of those woven loom pot holders I made so many of as a child.)
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Christians have redefined grace to be something God never intended. So grateful for the empowerment of God’s faithfulness.
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Another great post!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
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True grace empowers obedience… Yes! This is so true and fresh for me while healing from the death of my hubby. Empty, lost, yet when God’s love touched me, love and obedience flow from me. Amazing actually, as I’m not naturally a lover of people and somewhat of a rebel.
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Donna you have put real life, on the ground application to this post’s point. Thanks so much for sharing!
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“True grace empowers obedience.” Insightful truth, Michele, and worth pondering and praying over. Thank you!
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Still pondering and praying around it myself, Nancy.
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The Opposite Day Truth – God world is surely the opposite of man’s world – “True grace empowers obedience.” Only in our surrender, our love, our selflessness can we find the strength to obey, to live God’s way. So many times I want to make a point, to fight a battle – and God says to only step forward in love, not to worry about my wounds but give grace to those that wound. Just the nudge I needed to remind me, Michele!
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How true that our obedience may look a lot like Christ’s obedience. Cross shaped love keeps us!
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“True grace empowers obedience.” – chewing on this truth today . . . A reminder to me that I also need to extend grace to others who struggle in different areas of obedience than I do. God’s grace is what makes it possible for any of us to fully obey.
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That’s certainly a gracious response, Kym. It IS SO EASY to condemn first and ask questions later.
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We stand firm of our own choice. Grace gives us the strength, the wisdom, and the faith to be able to stand firm.
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Absolutely!
I love that it’s a dance of furious opposites.
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This says it all…”Without True Grace, There Is NO Standing Firm”!
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And we SO NEED to be standing firm in this season of fear and uncertainty!
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Oh, I love your connection here with grace and obedience. “True grace is not the opposite of obedience. True grace empowers obedience.” This gives me something new to think about. So thankful for God’s grace and all the many gifts it brings with it!
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It’s really startling truth to me as well. I love the paradoxes of scripture. God is certainly “not like a tame lion.”
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Michele, you just made me stop my day and think about grace. It’s one of my favorite concepts, but I LOVE what you shared here. It gave me a deeper understanding of grace.
And this: Without True Grace, There Is NO Standing Firm” Yes and so, so true. Thank you, friend.
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I love that the very attribute of God that allows us to be in relationship with him also sustains us in that closeness!
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Without the grace of God we are nothing.
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We are grace dependent creatures!
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Just started reading Christine Caine’s new book. Intro alone is excellent.
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It sure is! And I think it gets better as she rolls along.
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I always think of Grace as being polite and thoughtful to others. Thanks for linking with #pocolo
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That’s certainly an example of how we extend grace to one another. Such a needed commodity in today’s world!
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Grace is as you say much needed in today’s world – but so often overlooked. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
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Absolutely (and sadly) true…
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