There is a wonder to the grace of God if we have eyes to see and a willingness to embrace it for what it actually is and Who He is.

R.C. Sproul once wrote about our complacency in light of God’s grace and in the face of His holiness, which he described as “cosmic treason.”

“What happens is we get accustomed to God’s grace.  At first, we’re amazed by it. The second time, we’re not quite so much surprised.  By the third or fourth time (or as we continue in rationalized habitual sin), we begin to expect it.  We then assume it.  Then we demand it and we’re angry if we don’t get it. (Especially if God disciplines us with exposure so that another speaks the truth in love into it or there is a direct negative consequence of our actions).

The greatest distortion in our thinking is that God owes us mercy; that God is somehow obligated to be gracious to us.  Because grace, by its very definition, is voluntary. God is not required to be merciful.  He reserves the right to be merciful to whom He will be merciful and gracious to whom He will be gracious.

You can plead for grace; you can beg for mercy; but you can never ever demand it.

Justice may be required but never ever mercy.”  (R.C. Sproul, Cosmic Treason)*

The wonder of redemption.

The awe of the Son of God taking on the form of man and receiving my deserved punishment, giving me freedom to live in Truth, obedience and joy out of love and gratitude to God.

Lord, never let me lose that wonder.

Never let me become complacent with that gift or my position in Christ.

Never let me settle for “acceptable sins,” rationalized disobedience, or comfortable self-satisfaction.

Never let me gratify my desires at the expense of another and the dishonoring of God.

Never let me seek to do life and take on temptation apart from your Spirit and without another to challenge and cheer me on.

Never let me continue to live and walk in my own understanding, choosing those things Christ died to forgive and from which He intends to free us.

Never let me “grow weary and lose heart” knowing you have promised that we will “reap a harvest if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Never let me boast except in the cross of Christ.

Never let me forget and live in light of how great a salvation!

“Not until we take God seriously will we ever take sin seriously!”  (R.C. Sproul)

And not until we take our sin seriously will we truly recognize the weightiness of His grace and increase in our love for and fear of God Himself!

We are great sinners, but Christ is the greater Savior! (adapted from John Newton, Amazing Grace)

Be amazed by His grace along with me and run in wonder and freedom!

*Book: R.C. Sproul – The Holiness of God

*Article: https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/cosmic-treason