G R A C E

I’ve been thinking about grace a lot lately.

Not the high brow grace of theological lingo or religious liturgy (though those kinds are not invalid), but the kind of everyday grace that reaches out to each other in compassion and forgivenesss, and that is essential to grab hold of as we relate to each other.

What does this grace look like?
And how is it played out in messiness of sinful hearts and individual choices?

1. Grace sees the sin of another through the lens of the ugliness of my own heart.  Both of us are equal debtors to God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Grace does not mean we dismiss nor ignore the consequences of sin, but it does resist the natural bent to hold some kinds of sin to a higher “yuck” factor status in our own minds.  We are all broken.

2. Grace looks forward instead of looking back. It is easy to rehearse the evil. It can feel good to nurse the hurt. It can feel righteous to spotlight the offense. But God promises forgiveness that is complete and final. If our holy God can promise ‘no condemnation’, than we have no excuse not to do likewise.

3. Grace relates through the hands and feet of active love that isn’t afraid of the mess. Or more accurately, grace moves toward people,  despite one’s own fear!  I don’t always know how to relate to the one who has messed up, who has apologized but it is still awkward. What can I offer to others who may be hurting in the situation?  I don’t always know what to say.  But I resist the tendency to withdraw, to assume someone else will speak. Instead I put 1 Corinthians 13 in “drive” and accelerate appropriately.

4. Grace prays and strives for the unity of the Gospel in all things.  There is someOne bigger than the offense, ---even the deep hurt of what it may cost me personally, and the desire for His glory unifies us. We all kneel in utter desperate need equally at the foot of the Cross.  Grace reconciles. Gathers together around the gospel.  Grace grabs the other’s hand and affirms, Christ has already won the victory for both of us. Let’s march forward to pursue His fame.

These are statements in the context of acknowledged wrong and repentance.  How does grace look when these items are absent?
Let’s look at that in another post….soon.