Freedom in His Grace

Psalm 139:14 NASB95

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Possibly the greatest bondage in life

I remember when I led worship in Kansas City and in Hong Kong.

One time, we were invited to lead worship for a revival meeting in Hong Kong.

It was hundreds of church leaders from all over the world.

I was going to take the center stage and lead worship.

I was so desperate to do a great job.

I wanted to hear from my worship team that I did such a great work.

I was striving for that recognition and praises.

We love to be praised, whether you actively seek it or not.

We love being told that we are good at something or we did well, etc.

Many times, we strive to hear those praises of men.

Living before the eyes of men binds us down.

We study so hard to not disappoint our parents.

Your personality may be that of “I don’t care what others say” but be honest with yourself. You’d rather hear praises than scolding.

The world is also filled with such message.

“Don’t judge”

“Don’t mind others opinions, you be you”

etc.

Even when we do hear praises of men, it’s so momentary that in just moments time, it’s back to striving all over again.

The grace of God sets us free

The grace that God gives us breaks us free from that bondage of striving of living before the eyes of men.

We no longer need to impress others, and no longer need to be affirmed by others.

It’s not that the need of being affirmed goes away.

That desire, wanting to be accepted is by divine design.

But when we realize that we have God’s full acceptance, that hunger to be accepted in completely fulfilled.

John 7:37

John 7:37 NASB95

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

This thirst isn’t talking about physical thirst. That’s obvious.

Even though Jesus is talking about many other things regarding “thirst,” this is one of them.

We have a thirst that just cannot be fulfilled by others but He can quench that thirst.

Matthew 25:23

Matthew 25:23 NASB95

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

Can you imagine hearing that from the creator of the universe?

Can you imagine hearing that kind of praise from the all-powerful, creator God?

Imagine you standing in the doorway of heaven and the Lord looks at you and says, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Can you imagine the joy and the satisfaction?

He is already satisfied

Our passage today says each one of you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

He is already so satisfied in you.

He is already so proud of you.

It’s not because you are someone or something great. On our own, we are completely wretched.

It’s all because of Christ.

Hebrews 10:14

Hebrews 10:14 NASB95

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

It’s His work that has made us perfect.

The beauty of it all is that we don’t need to strive at all to earn His acceptance or His praise.

Christ did it all for us on the cross!

All we need to do is simply live in our lives out from that truth.