Music Devotion Day 10: Grace Wins//Matthew West

Grace Wins//Matthew West

There are times as Christians when we fail miserably, we find ourselves face down on the floor praying no one watched us stumble. We look up and it never fails there are judging eyes standing watch. Taking on the name of Christian can often be a lonely place, many perceive Christian to mean perfection. When it truly means the opposite; a sinner covered by Grace.

Grace is the power that saves us. It says we can be broken and imperfect and still are loved. We can mess up royally and still return home into the loving arms of our Father (Luke 15:11-32) who sacrificed his most perfect lamb for us (John 1:29).

Grace gives us the freedom to learn how to be in relationship with Christ. Freedom doesn’t mean permission. We aren’t supposed to run around doing what our hearts desire (1 Corinthians 10:23) because Grace will cover our sins, but we are called to run the race (1 Corinthians 9:23-24) diligently focusing on the cross. Grace picks us up when we fall, it dusts us off, reminds us who we belong to, and tells us to keep going.

But, in the shadow of that shame

Beat down by all the blame

I hear you call my name sayin’ it’s not over

And my heart starts to beat

So loud, drowning out the doubt

I’m down but I’m not out.

We were given freedom on the cross, freedom from the weight and death from our sins. Our problem is often that we don’t allow ourselves to feel the Grace that flows from Calvary but instead we let guilt and shame weigh down our hearts and live in fear. Grace is stronger than fear but only if we let it be. Let Grace win today and don’t let your guilt have control.

There’s a war between guilt and grace,

And they’re fighting for a sacred space

But I’m living proof

Grace wins every time.

There are numerous stories in the Bible where Grace wins. The greatest of which is on the cross. Let these stories be what you need to help you let go of your shame and guilt and be free from your sins!

For the prodigal son, grace wins

For the woman at the well, grace wins

For the blind man and the beggar, grace wins

For always and forever, grace wins

For the lost out on the street, grace wins

For the worst part of you and me, grace wins

For the thief on the cross, grace wins

For a world that it lost

Luke 15: 11-32 “Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!  I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”

1 Corinthians 9:23-24 ”I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.”