Changing Your World

God’s ways of operating are completely different than man’s ways, and much more effective in changing us for the better and causing us to want to live godly. The world uses punishment and threats to correct our behavior; by contrast, God uses mercy and forgiveness. The absence of condemnation gives us the power to overcome what once overcame us. Yielding ourselves to Him allows Him to work through us to reach others through empathy and compassion, not through judgment.

God’s ways of operating are completely different than man’s ways, and much more effective in changing us for the better and causing us to want to live godly. The world uses punishment and threats to correct our behavior; by contrast, God uses mercy and forgiveness. The absence of condemnation gives us the power to overcome what once overcame us. Yielding ourselves to Him allows Him to work through us to reach others through empathy and compassion, not through judgment.

God’s ways of operating are completely different than man’s ways, and much more effective in changing us for the better and causing us to want to live godly. The world uses punishment and threats to correct our behavior; by contrast, God uses mercy and forgiveness. The absence of condemnation gives us the power to overcome what once overcame us. Yielding ourselves to Him allows Him to work through us to reach others through empathy and compassion, not through judgment.

God’s way of thinking and His method of operating are very different from ours. On life’s journey, He expects us to encounter detours and stray from the path from time to time. However, unlike people who shame and condemn us for making mistakes, God takes it all in stride. God operates on the supernatural level; unlike natural man, He doesn’t expect us to contribute anything to earn His favor.

God’s way of thinking and His method of operating are very different from ours. On life’s journey, He expects us to encounter detours and stray from the path from time to time. However, unlike people who shame and condemn us for making mistakes, God takes it all in stride. God operates on the supernatural level; unlike natural man, He doesn’t expect us to contribute anything to earn His favor.

Believers are under constant attack from the enemy. There’s a battle going on in our minds as to what we do—or don’t—believe; the danger of not believing God’s Word is that it opens the door for the devil to condemn us. To feel condemned is to feel inferior, as if we’re not good enough and don’t measure up. We’re delivered from this emotion through our belief in Jesus Christ and our dependence on Him.

Believers under grace don’t have to work to obey a long list of rules. All we need to do is to believe in Jesus and in what He accomplished when He died on the cross to draw all of our sins onto Himself. Jesus sacrificed His body and blood to pay the ransom on our behalf, so that we could receive eternal life in heaven. Unlike under the law, faith in Jesus allows God to show us unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness regardless of our actions. Belief in all He did for us radically changes our lives.

Believers under grace don’t have to work to obey a long list of rules. All we need to do is to believe in Jesus and in what He accomplished when He died on the cross to draw all of our sins onto Himself. Jesus sacrificed His body and blood to pay the ransom on our behalf, so that we could receive eternal life in heaven. Unlike under the law, faith in Jesus allows God to show us unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness regardless of our actions. Belief in all He did for us radically changes our lives.

Believers under grace don’t have to work to obey a long list of rules. All we need to do is to believe in Jesus and in what He accomplished when He died on the cross to draw all of our sins onto Himself. Jesus sacrificed His body and blood to pay the ransom on our behalf, so that we could receive eternal life in heaven. Unlike under the law, faith in Jesus allows God to show us unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness regardless of our actions. Belief in all He did for us radically changes our lives.

Christians must understand what being holy involves. It isn’t about our own performance or self-effort, but about Jesus Christ and our faith in Him. Getting born again gives us access to everything He has and makes us as righteous as He is. It doesn’t focus on our conduct but on the realization of our identity as God’s children. Getting out of the flesh, which is a way of thinking hostile to God, and realizing that Jesus is the only reason we can be holy, puts us in the right mindset.

Christians must understand what being holy involves. It isn’t about our own performance or self-effort, but about Jesus Christ and our faith in Him. Getting born again gives us access to everything He has and makes us as righteous as He is. It doesn’t focus on our conduct but on the realization of our identity as God’s children. Getting out of the flesh, which is a way of thinking hostile to God, and realizing that Jesus is the only reason we can be holy, puts us in the right mindset.

Under the covenant of grace, God asks us to be holy, but not the way religion tells us. Unlike the law, which demanded perfect and spotless sacrifices, God asks us to willingly sacrifice ourselves to Him, flaws and all. This is so that He can express His love through us. Being holy isn’t living a sinless life, but standing separate and apart from the common world. Genuine holiness comes when we accept and understand that because of our faith in Jesus, we’re different and don’t blend in with the crowd.

Under the covenant of grace, God asks us to be holy, but not the way religion tells us. Unlike the law, which demanded perfect and spotless sacrifices, God asks us to willingly sacrifice ourselves to Him, flaws and all. This is so that He can express His love through us. Being holy isn’t living a sinless life, but standing separate and apart from the common world.

One of the biggest challenges for us as believers is avoiding getting caught up in religion with all its rules. Trying to live by the law keeps us off balance, but walking according to the rhythm of grace gives us rest and keeps us from becoming exhausted. God has told us we are righteous and holy; staying in rhythm with grace when we make a mistake rescues us from pausing and trying to figure out what to do to deal with our behavior. We must never underestimate God’s mercy and kindness.

One of the biggest challenges for us as believers is avoiding getting caught up in religion with all its rules. Trying to live by the law keeps us off balance, but walking according to the rhythm of grace gives us rest and keeps us from becoming exhausted. God has told us we are righteous and holy; staying in rhythm with grace when we make a mistake rescues us from pausing and trying to figure out what to do to deal with our behavior. We must never underestimate God’s mercy and kindness.