Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines

by David Mathis

Here’s a starter list of ten. Perhaps keep your eyes peeled for others and add them as you go—and don’t be surprised if you find a lot in Romans. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8) The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9) The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Tim. 1:15) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Rev. 5:9)