Unmerited, Conditional Grace

"Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
...
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
...
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
...
Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you. "
~ Psalm 25:8-12, 16, 18, 20-21 (NIV)

Reading the passage carefully draws my attention to the fact that there are conditions to which God showers his grace. This however, does not negate the unconditional, unmerited, election and regeneration that God's children experience. The Bold statements are the conditions and the underlined statements are the blessings. There are times, that I live with the attitude that God would bless me no matter what. Although there is truth in that, but one must not proceed the days of their lives with a cavalier attitude that, regardless of our obedience, God blesses. That is twisted theology, which underscores many attitudes of taking-for-granted, mediocrity, being easily-satisfied, compromising behaviours, unguarded thoughts, uncontrolled mannerisms.

May the Lord once again re-align our thoughts and minds on Godliness, of which purity, truth and love flows.