Only Grace

This last week I was reading Galatians and Paul was writing to a group of people who had the best of intentions, but were totally missing the boat when it came to living the Christian life. They thought they needed to "follow the rules" in order to be saved. Paul makes in abundantly clear that we are under a new covenant, one in which we are saved by grace and not by works or anything of our own doing. 

As someone who is a "rule follower" and "list-maker" I can see how the people of Galatia got it wrong. They wanted to check off all for boxes for what Old Testament law had said. However, Paul makes a really solid point, if anything needs to be added to the finished work of Christ on the cross, then he died for nothing. "For by grace we are saved through faith, and not my works, so that any man can boast." We are saved not because of anything we have done, but simply because of Christ's love for us.

Now, that doesn't mean mean that we can completely disregard rules, laws, and God's declaration for how we are to live our lives, simply because we are saved my grace. Just the opposite, in fact, it means that we should do our best to listen to the law, because of the love for God and Christ. We follow out of love, not out of a belief that it's earning us a spot in heaven. 

It makes me think about why I say and do what I do. My motivation should be to show an outpouring of Christ's love, and to show others how great the God is that I serve. It's not about rules and a list of "do's and don't," and to make that would not be to show who God really is. I challenge you to think about who your are in Christ. Do you consider and live your life as though you are saved by grace, or is it about checking off a bunch of boxes on a "to-do" list? 

I've been starting to pull out some of my fall clothes, which I'm super excited about, but our temperates are still in the 80 degree area most days.  I loved the idea of pairing this cardigan with this all white outfit and am happy with how it came together.

I recently had a friend give me this necklace and bracelet down below. They are from Lia Sophia and she signed up to sell for them less than a month before they went under. Such a bummer! I really do love the pieces she shared with me though.

Cardigan: Pink Blush Maternity c/o similar

Top: Old Navy

Jeans: Target same / non-maternity 

Necklace: Lia Sophia

Bracelets: Stella and Dot same and Lia Sophia

Shoes: Aerosoles c/o Chippmunk same

Linking up with:

What I Wore to Work Link-up