Grace Awakening.

Just to be clear, that is the title of the book that I am a few pages from finishing. It has been such a good read and I am so grateful that the Lord led me to read it right now. I think that the concept I got most out of the book overall was that we need to realize the importance of grace. We need to truly understand grace. We need to practice grace. We need to thank God for his abundant grace. (Ok, that was more than one...but my fingers just kept typing.)

One of my favorite chapters is entitled "Emancipated? The Live Like It!" Swindoll parallels the time of slavery during and following the Civil War with the lives of the recipients of God's grace...and the liberty that comes with it. After the Emancipation Proclamation was reflected in the Constitution, many slaves did something rather strange:

"And yet something happened that many would have never expected. The vast majority of the slaves in the South who were legally freed continued to live as slaves. Most of them went right on living as though nothing had happened. Though free, the Blacks lived virtually unchanged lives throughout the Reconstruction Period."

This is a somewhat lengthy quote, but when I read this section I was astonished...it is so very true...in fact I'm pretty sure I pounded the table with my fist.

"Now if you think that is tragic, I can tell you one far worse. It has to do with Christians living today as slaves. Even though our Great Emancipator, Christ the Lord, paid the ultimate price to overthrow slavery once for all, most Christians act as though they're still held in bondage. In fact, strange as it is, most seem to prefer the security of slavery to the risks of liberty. And our slave master, Satan, loves it so. He is delighted that so many have bought into that lie and live under the dark shadow of such ignorance."

"For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." --Colossians 1:13-14

And here's another thought that I find especially intriguing...

"When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right." --Romans 6:20

Actually, I just recommend reading all of Romans 6. Go. Do it. Now. Please.

Now, one more think that really stuck out to me from this book. It hits close to home for me because some of my extended family members fall into this category. What do you say to an unbeliever who sees nothing wrong with the life they are leading? What do you say when they are successful (in the eyes of the world) and need nothing? What do you say when they have a wonderful family and friends? What do you say when they ask you what is wrong with their life?

"It is possible you may cope fairly well with life, but I must remind you that you will not make it past death."

"'If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?'" --Luke 9:24-25