Posted January 24, 2026

What better way to start the New Year than Rejoicing in the Gift of Grace that is Ours, all because of the Finished Work of our Savior the Lord Jesus. On this First day of the Rest of our lives, Celebrate it in Victory because of Grace. Let’s take a moment and read again an entry from April 2023, as we step into what God has for us in 2026!

GRACE IS THE WORD – (4/4/23) - Does anyone remember the days when the public library would have to remind us, then beg us and practically threaten us, to bring our borrowed books back? Being “acceptable” and “good enough” to use their books meant following their rules (a little exaggeration here). Eventually, we received “favor” when the library gave us “free days”, where you simply had to come in - just as you are - with their books. Late fees were forgiven, absorbed, leaving you with a clean slate, a new start. That didn’t mean the rules never existed. It only meant you would not be “condemned” because you messed up. And the “way of escaping” the punishment for messing up was free to all who came forward and accepted it! It wasn’t because of anything we had done; it was all just forgiven.

This memory is a light-hearted example of how mankind “escaped” the punishment for the sin nature that was released in the world after Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Later, Man was still not able to live up to what was required by the Law (that is, the 10 Commandments) – so in stepped Jesus, God the Son. He allowed Himself to be the sacrifice, the ONE who would die for ALL. When we come to Him just as we are, admitting that we cannot live a perfect life, that we mess up, we receive His free gift of Grace and forgiveness, not because of anything we have done, but All because of what Jesus did!

“Therefore whoever knows Well, how to distinguish the Gospel from the Law should give thanks to God and know that he (who does) is a true theologian”. [Martin Luther, Protestant Reformation leader.]