If you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.  1 Samuel 12:15

God’s Word through Samuel is a harsh one. Yet, it is one that we must include in our triumphant song of grace. You see, true grace changes us, just like true repentance. It will make us gracious and more like the Grace-giver himself. If not, what we call grace is powerless, and false. Paul called this a form of religion that denied God’s true power in us (2 Timothy 3:5). Grace should lead us to become like Jesus (Luke 6:40; Colossians 1:28-29) in his righteous character, gracious compassion, and love-based justice (Philippians 2:1-8). Let’s return obedience as a virtue!

Father, I know you are disappointed with my sin, yet your grace still flows and covers me. Father, I NEVER want to rely on that grace or cheapen it with reckless sin and disobedience. You know the deepest struggles of my character and the things I only want to “kinda give up.” So, please work your perfection in me through the Holy Spirit, conforming me to be more and more like my Savior Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.