Topic: Grace That Releases – Insight For Living Daily Devotional by Chuck Swindoll Ministry 31 May   2023

Click HERE for Previous MESSAGES

Grace That Releases

May 31, 2023

by Pastor Chuck Swindoll Scriptures: Psalm 103:12

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)

One characteristic of a grace awakening ministry deserves special attention: release from past failures. A ministry of grace doesn’t keep bringing up the past for the purpose of holding it over people. There is an absence of shame. Paul addresses this in 1 Timothy 1:12–14:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

You may be surprised to know that the apostle Paul had every reason to feel ashamed. He was one whose past was dreadful: “formerly a blasphemer . . . persecutor . . . violent aggressor.” Then how could the same man write, “I am not ashamed” (2 Timothy 1:12)? He gives us the answer here in 1 Timothy 1:14: Grace was more than abundant. Blasphemy had abounded in his past, but grace superabounded. Violence and brutality had abounded, but grace superabounded.

I realize it reads “blasphemer, persecutor, aggressor.” But what if it read “prostitute” or “ex-con” or “financial failure” or “murderer”? In a grace-awakened ministry, none of those things in the past are allowed to hold those people in bondage. They are released, forgiven, and the believer is allowed to go on to a new life in Christ.

Grace releases people, not only from sin but from shame. Do you do that in your ministry? Or do you make a note of those things and keep reminding yourself when that particular name comes up: “Well, you know, you’d better watch her” or, “You’ve gotta watch him.” Do you give people reasons to feel greater shame? Who knows what battles of shame most folks struggle with? It is enormous

ALSO READ: CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ⊗ OPEN HEAVEN ⊗ JOEL OSTEEN DEVOTIONAL⊗ ABOVE ONLY ⊗ OUR DAILY BREAD ⊗ SEEDS OF DESTINY ⊗ JOYCE MEYER DEVOTIONAL ⊗ RHAPSODY OF REALITIES ⊗ JOHN HAGEE ⊗ MFM DAILY DEVOTIONAL ⊗UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHESTDCLM DAILY MANNA ⊗ JOHN PIPER DEVOTIONAL ⊗