On December 23rd, I walked my second daughter, Erica, down the aisle, stepped onto the stage and performed her wedding ceremony. It was an emotional moment, made easier only by the fact that I love and respect her husband, Ross. He is a good man and loves my daughter with all his heart. I’m proud to have him as my son-in-law.

Because Ross is in the Army, he had to be back at Fort Bragg on January 2nd. Four days later, Erica and I drove from Arkansas to Fayetteville, North Carolina so she could be with him. For much of our two-day drive, we listened to a worship CD. There was one song we listened to over and over. Here it is:

Since I’ve been back in Arkansas, I continue to listen to it. I think I can’t get away from it because it’s the cry of my heart. I want Jesus to be lifted high in my life. I want to live in such a way that He receives honor. I want people to look at me and instead see Him.

And yet…

And yet, I sin. I disobey Him. I do what I want. I don’t run hard after obeying the One who gave His life for me.

And that makes me grateful for His grace.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2)

Grace does not give me an excuse to sin. There are no excuses. But the love and grace of Jesus overwhelms my sin.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35)

Nothing we do will separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing we do will exhaust His grace. His love and grace have no limits. They cannot be measured. They continually wash us clean of our guilt and shame.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Do you desire for Christ to be lifted high in your life?

Then don’t let your sin keep you from seeking Him. Allow His immeasurable, unending, limitless love and grace to wash over you. You are not defined by your sin, no matter how awful or persistent it is. If you are a follower of Jesus, He defines you. And He sees you as holy and blameless. He gives grace, not condemnation. He forgives and forgets your sin.

When you stumble and fall, God isn’t standing over you shaking an angry finger. In love, He extends His hand to lift you up again, so that He can be lifted high in your life.