"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." NKJV
"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." JCB
I heard a story a long while ago about a man who embarked on a forty day fast. Day thirty-seven rolled around. He dove into a family sized bag of potato chips and ate the entire thing all by himself.
What do you think he did?
When I first heard this, I assumed he had to start all over again because he had failed to attain his objective of fasting for forty days but I was wrong. He repented of falling to temptation then continued to fast for three more days.
Guilt leaves no room for grace.
Guilt is a sledgehammer with shame as its handle. It beats joy down to nothing. It hammers spikes of inadequacy deep into our souls. It pummels the gift of our worth as children of God to dust. It drives in fence posts of isolation. It builds a fence between the posts of fear guarded by razor wire regret. It's an ugly thing, an ungodly thing.
Grace leaves no room for guilt.
Grace is love expressed towards others and ourselves. Grace is patience, kindness and forgiveness. If guilt is a sledgehammer, grace is a feather from God's wings.
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