“Nothing fosters courage like a clear grasp of grace.”

A thought by Max Lucado (2012-02-06) from his book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (p. 38). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

But Max doesn’t stop there.  He then says, “And nothing fosters fear like an ignorance of mercy.”  And that is where so many people live.  And maybe that is true of you.

He goes on, “May I speak candidly? If you haven’t accepted God’s forgiveness, you are doomed to fear. Nothing can deliver you from the gnawing realization that you have disregarded your Maker and disobeyed his instruction. No pill, pep talk, psychiatrist, or possession can set the sinner’s heart at ease. You may deaden the fear, but you can’t remove it. Only God’s grace can.

“Have you accepted the forgiveness of Christ? If not, do so. ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1: 9). Your prayer can be as simple as this: Dear Father, I need forgiveness. I admit that I have turned away from you. Please forgive me. I place my soul in your hands and my trust in your grace. Through Jesus I pray, amen. 

“Having received God’s forgiveness, live forgiven! Jesus has healed your legs, so walk. Jesus has opened the cage of the kennel, so step out. When Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed.”  And that is so true.

But Max doesn’t stop there.  He goes on, “But you may need to silence some roosters. Booker T. Washington relates a helpful story of the day his mother did so. Every morning of his young life, he, along with all the plantation slaves, was awakened by the crow of a rooster. Long before daybreak the unwelcome noise would fill the sod shanties, reminding Washington and his fellow workers to crawl out of bed and leave for the cotton fields. The rooster’s crow came to symbolize their dictated life of long days and backbreaking labor. But then came the Emancipation Proclamation. Abraham Lincoln pronounced freedom for slaves. The first morning afterward, young Booker was awakened by the rooster again. Only this time his mother was chasing it around the barnyard with an ax. The Washington family fried and ate their alarm clock for lunch. Their first act of freedom was to silence the reminder of slavery.”

Max then asks, “Any roosters stealing your sleep? You might need to sharpen the blade. The great news of the gospel is, yes, his grace is real, and so is our freedom.”  And so is our freedom.

Have you found that with forgiveness there is freedom from fear?