“Seeking the life in grace as the way of life” is mypersonal vision statement. Often I am asked if it is really possible to live a “life in grace” in a performance based acceptance culture. Yes, it is possible to live a life in grace, but it takeswork.Such a life requires training. Discipleship, or maturing in Christ, is aprocess of training our minds to understand ourselves the way God does.
Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of yourminds, sothat you may discern what is the will of God— what is good andacceptable and perfect.”

Pastors have their performance reviewed by congregations every Sunday after the sermon. Schoolteachers are evaluated on the basis of the test scores of theirstudents.Test scores may have an important place in education but they certainlydo not givea complete evaluation of a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom,and they are by no means an indication of the worth or value of the teacher as a person.Unfortunately test scores can demoralize the students as well as the teachers.Happy well-adjusted children are the result of unconditional love coupledwith direct, consistent, caring instructions and demonstrations of how to think and solve problems . Sometimes test scores can make a child (or teacher) feel unacceptable.

For me, there are two important keys in the training or transformation process that leads to a life in grace.

The first key is in understanding that our performance in life does not determine our worth or value as human beings. A Christian, at the very core of their being, is the beloved child of God, with whom God is delighted and upon whom God’s favor rests.(See “The Believer’s Identity”)

Whether I stammer and stutter aimlessly through a sermon or powerfully preach God’s Word in a way that leads people to God’s throne of grace, God’s love for me is the same.

However, this wonderful, marvelous grace of God does not give the believer license to become an under-achiever. God’s Word calls us to perfection not mediocrity. This is the second key.

God’s unfailing love for us enables the believer to see the difference between our identity as the beloved child of God and our performance in the world. Both are important. Because we can rest in the security of God’s unchanging love for us wedo not have to be afraid of failure.

God’s perfect love is intended to remove all fear from the believer’s heart. As we live in grace, no matter how miserably we may fail to meet cultural standards, God is not ashamed of us. And, as we live in grace, we are not ashamed to rest in God’s love for us, regardless of the world’s judgment of our performance.

Because of God’s love for me, I want to offer my very best work to God. This I believe is true worship. Offering my very best requires that I am open toreceivecriticism, direction and correction from my supervisors, peers, and those I serve.Why? Because, with all that I am and all that I have, I desire to honor God. Not to earn His favor, rather, as my response to His love and acceptance of me,just as I am.

This process of transformation is not easy. At times it is very painful. But, God has high hopes for us. As we move on toward perfection, we are destined to become just like Jesus. Let us fix our eyes on that goal.

Bill Gillham has a wonderful book that deals with grace and performance based acceptance: Lifetime Guarantee.

Also, Gene Edwards has two good books thatmay help you understand our trials along the journey to become like Christ:
A Tale of Three Kings and The Prisoner in the Third Cell.
All three are available at Christian Bookstores.