It enchains you.
It oppresses you.
It manipulates you.
It breathes fire upon you.
It is the dragon of religion.
That dragon called self-righteous religion is an enemy of the gospel of grace we find in Jesus.
The dragon controls us with fear.
The gospel compels us with love.
The dragon steals joy.
The gospel brings joy.
The dragon captures.
The gospel frees.
For far too long, we’ve allowed the dragon to dwell among us.
Some even claim the dragon is one of us.
Others say that if we ride the back of the dragon, it will lead us to paradise.
The dragon is sneaky.
Somehow this hideous creature can go unnoticed.
But it leaves a footprint.
It’s shaped like hopelessness or pride.
Some of us will hate ourselves when we don’t think we’re good enough. (Hopelessness)
Others of us will worship ourselves and think we’re better than the rest. (Pride)
Pride is what got the serpent known as satan booted from Heaven.
As recipients, bearers, and communicators of the gospel, we are to be on guard for the dragon.
When we come across that nasty dragon…
Slay it.
With grace.
After all, it’s not about what you’ve done.
It’s about what’s been done for you.
By the King of kings.
In the presence of the King…
Pride is replaced with humility.
Hopelessness is replaced with hope.
And the dragon of religion is replaced by the grace of God.
That’s good news.
Grace on Tap4
Posted In Church,Faith
Churches should be like bars and keep an endless supply of grace on tap.
To a parched world, this life often feels like you’ve been working atop a roof on a scorching, hot day.
Churches can either offer an ice cold drink of grace…
Some warm, sour milk of religion…
Or nothing at all.
Too many offer the latter options.
We need more who offer the first.
Churches are to be paragons of grace.
What is the church but a people united by the gospel of grace found in Jesus?
On the cross, the keg of God’s grace was tapped and is available to all.
Forever overflowing into the empty steins of our lives and churches for a reason:
To receive it and share with others.
People can find better products and services elsewhere.
But no one and nothing should outgrace us!
