The reason for Grace
The reason for Grace is not to live a godly life. The reason for Grace, is because we can't.
Grace of God is most precious when we fall. When we sin, when we leave the father's house, when we run away from Christ, when literally, dirty money in the left hand, while the preacher is shaking our right hand.
When we are like naughty children, told to stay away from the cookie jar, not only do we eat the cookies, we break the jar, destroy our appetite, and deny that we did anything wrong.
When we hurt God by dishonouring friends, by disobeying parents, by doing what we want to do.
That is when the Grace of God works the most. The hand that God extends when we fall into the mud, the clothes he puts on us when we come back home.
I like the picture of the return of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-27) The rebellious, unfilial and by all accounts the lost son comes back. He comes back, poor, after spending a huge portion of his father's money, (remember he got his share of the inheritance). He comes back poor, dirty, hungry, smelly, literally untouchable. Literally, he was scum, like human waste. Most of us won't bother to even look at him.
But here, the father does not take heed at all that. He looks instead beyond all the outward appearance, all the outward dirt, looks past the hurts that the son has done to him, looks past the history, and sees his son. He runs out to the heap of dirt, and the father embraces him.
The act of embracing someone is a act of unbridled love. The act of embracing someone who is that filthy (and i am willing to say that the father who is wealthy is probably clean in every sense of the word) comes out and actually runs out and hugs his son. The father goes on to call for a ring, a robe, a sandal, orders a feast. All symbols of family. All symbols of an amazing love.
Now that is Grace. That is grace at its purest form, to look at someone who has sinned against you, who has probably fallen into bad times, bad company, into sin, and saying, it is ok, all is forgiven. That is what God does! He is waiting, yes waiting for us to come home. Waiting for us to return home and say that Father, i am sorry.
This story is told by Jesus when he is talking to the sinners and tax collectors. NLT actually says the sinners are notorious, and in those days, tax collectors were seen as filth. Lower then low. And around Jesus is the pharisees and the teachers of the law. And Jesus introduces this concept of grace.
So many times, we Christians use grace as a tool to walk a perfect life. It is not grace's purpose. Grace is to cover sin. Walking the perfect life is strengthened through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace comes in when that faith fails. Grace comes in to heal, to protect to repair. Not as a petrol to run hard, not as fuel to run, but as an quintessential touch that carries us forward when we fall.
Bible tells us, share your sins with one another, that that which is in the dark will not grow. Bible tells us, prayer of a righteous man is effective (Jam 5:16) and accomplish much.
How many of us can really share, without fear of judgment? Those of us who put on the mask of perfection, tear it off. Those of us who share successes, look deeper. And come to terms with who you are. Those of us who share struggles, do you see the grace of God? Those of us whom people share with you, do you show them God's grace?
Grace of God is most precious when we fall. When we sin, when we leave the father's house, when we run away from Christ, when literally, dirty money in the left hand, while the preacher is shaking our right hand.
When we are like naughty children, told to stay away from the cookie jar, not only do we eat the cookies, we break the jar, destroy our appetite, and deny that we did anything wrong.
When we hurt God by dishonouring friends, by disobeying parents, by doing what we want to do.
That is when the Grace of God works the most. The hand that God extends when we fall into the mud, the clothes he puts on us when we come back home.
I like the picture of the return of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-27) The rebellious, unfilial and by all accounts the lost son comes back. He comes back, poor, after spending a huge portion of his father's money, (remember he got his share of the inheritance). He comes back poor, dirty, hungry, smelly, literally untouchable. Literally, he was scum, like human waste. Most of us won't bother to even look at him.
But here, the father does not take heed at all that. He looks instead beyond all the outward appearance, all the outward dirt, looks past the hurts that the son has done to him, looks past the history, and sees his son. He runs out to the heap of dirt, and the father embraces him.
The act of embracing someone is a act of unbridled love. The act of embracing someone who is that filthy (and i am willing to say that the father who is wealthy is probably clean in every sense of the word) comes out and actually runs out and hugs his son. The father goes on to call for a ring, a robe, a sandal, orders a feast. All symbols of family. All symbols of an amazing love.
Now that is Grace. That is grace at its purest form, to look at someone who has sinned against you, who has probably fallen into bad times, bad company, into sin, and saying, it is ok, all is forgiven. That is what God does! He is waiting, yes waiting for us to come home. Waiting for us to return home and say that Father, i am sorry.
This story is told by Jesus when he is talking to the sinners and tax collectors. NLT actually says the sinners are notorious, and in those days, tax collectors were seen as filth. Lower then low. And around Jesus is the pharisees and the teachers of the law. And Jesus introduces this concept of grace.
So many times, we Christians use grace as a tool to walk a perfect life. It is not grace's purpose. Grace is to cover sin. Walking the perfect life is strengthened through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace comes in when that faith fails. Grace comes in to heal, to protect to repair. Not as a petrol to run hard, not as fuel to run, but as an quintessential touch that carries us forward when we fall.
Bible tells us, share your sins with one another, that that which is in the dark will not grow. Bible tells us, prayer of a righteous man is effective (Jam 5:16) and accomplish much.
How many of us can really share, without fear of judgment? Those of us who put on the mask of perfection, tear it off. Those of us who share successes, look deeper. And come to terms with who you are. Those of us who share struggles, do you see the grace of God? Those of us whom people share with you, do you show them God's grace?
Labels: Grace
posted by W | Saturday, March 03, 2007
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