Jaycee was a rescue baby. She was  placed in our home when she was 2 days old. We fostered her for a short time until her amazing adoptive parents and dear friends of ours were licensed to take her. She is vibrant, happy and much loved!

Grace gone wrong

Revelation 2:12-17

This is the letter to the church at Pergamum. “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is, and you hold fast My name…” Pergamum was a hot-bed of paganism and false religions. They remained faithful to their belief in God, even when their pastor was martyred, v13. They had a zeal for God, but Jesus had one thing against them.  They allowed some among them to follow the “teaching of Balaam” and the “teaching of the Nicolaitions.”  Both philosophies seemed to allow or promote the same thing; fleshly pleasure without conviction or guilt. These teachings twist the beauty of grace and turns our liberty in Christ into a license to fulfill our fleshly desires without enduring the consequences. In other words, God’s grace is so extensive, they say, that you can enjoy the sinful pleasures of this life freely (after all, God has joy in seeing you enjoy life) if you maintain a vibrant faith in your heart. There is some truth to it, but it actually is a perversion of God’s grace.

This brand of teaching gives license to sin and somehow promotes an indulgent lifestyle as “showcasing” God’s grace even more. I’ve encountered people who believe this and live it. Jesus clearly says to “repent” of this philosophy.  Lord, I find this belief repulsive to Your Word. Nevertheless, search my heart and reveal to me any actions of mine that take Your grace for granted. Renew my heart to pursue holiness, not because I “must” to earn Your grace but because I love you and I have joy in honoring you with my life. Amen