Hello friends. It has been a minute or ten since my last blog post, but with the beginning of the school year rapidly approaching I find myself beginning to think about the upcoming school year as we are getting ready to launch our last child into the wilds of the college world. The thought that is recurrently coming to mind lately is the idea of grace.
“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:2 (ESV)
This then begs the question – where am I standing? When I think of the concept of grace I tend to see it as this grand sweeping gesture that was bestowed upon humanity at the cross, which of course it was. The problem with this however is that I miss the forest for the trees with that line of thought. The magnitude of His grace is sometimes hard to comprehend in human terms. Because I know me and all the things that fall short of deserving His love. I doubt the ability of His grace to cover all of those ugly sins I tend to define myself by – and this is where Satan rejoices – in our doubts. How do we conquer this doubt and overcome our shortcoming of being stuck staring at the forest and not seeing the trees?… By drawing near to God through His word. Over and over God’s word points us to His grace. Points us to His love for us.
“… I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10 (ESV)
I John 3:20 (ESV)
“for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
Our faith is the key that opens the door of grace, and His grace is like a closet full of gifts waiting to tumble out upon us. Our faith leads us to the cross and places us at the feet of Jesus where we hear one of the greatest statements of grace –
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Luke 23:24 (ESV)
His grace in living color as we see His blood, His hands, His feet nailed upon a Roman cross for my sin. For your sin. It’s imperative that we see the cross as the greatest act of love and grace given to each of us. Not as a collective gift to humanity, but a gift for [insert your name]. The cross is a gift that was given for [insert your name], not just for the “us”. When we begin to see everyday grace given for [insert your name], the power of grace begins to take hold in our everyday lives and sets us free from the world and its never-ending, overwhelming doubt-driven, soul-sucking rhythm. Seeing God’s grace in the mirror should leave us with a desire to “go and do likewise”. Luke 10:37 (ESV)
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
I John 5:4 (ESV)
So as we face the beginning of another school year, whether you are the student or the teacher. I pray that you will carry the blessing of God’s grace with you in your everyday life.
Giving God the Glory 