This past week in crossroads david john brought up the subject of grace. It's so funny how God always brings up the same thing in a certain season. Obviously I am supposed to be learning something here. I have been pondering this matter for a while now. Would you allow me to think out loud?
I think that the majority of us can clearly grasp the concept of what it means when we say that by grace we are saved. (Eph. 2:8-9) Never belittling the grace of the cross, this is the most basic "form" of grace. I say the most basic because it is the initial introduction to his grace. For it is by this grace that we come to the understanding that we may be saved.
My most recent revelation (for lack of a better word) of grace has less to do with God's grace on me and more to do with my grace, through Him, towards others and myself.
I have learned in my short 24 year existence that as people we think very highly of ourselves and very lowly of others. I suppose this is the nature of our human form but it is inexcusable for the believer. (Romans 12:3) Because of this self-righteousness we consider ourselves to be the authority on…well everything. This distorted view of ourselves gives us the false sense that we have the right to give our "wise" advice on everyone's life situations. Seated on our high horse we miss the fact that we just might be devastatingly wrong. This mindset is birthed from our belief that because we "do" everything right according to some man made standard of righteousness then we have earned a certain status in a spiritual society. This status is not God-ordained or even God-approved. We achieve this "status" by measuring ourselves against one another and by achieving personal goals. We get a sense of accomplishment and we feel successful. We feel we have earned the right to attain a new level in the hierarchy.
Not only does this make us feel that we are higher than others, it backfires on the individual too. When we fail at something we feel that God is displeased with us, and I personally can't even find His love through the condemnation. Oddly enough I have often found that when I feel I have failed God it is because I set a standard for myself that He didn't set for me… that is a common problem for overachievers. The result that follows is that we kill ourselves trying to keep up with what we think is the best, working within the flesh and not the spirit, and it isn't long before we fail.
This is where grace comes in. it is only by grace that I may serve God acceptably. (Hebrew 12:2) Attempting to serve God outside of the realm of grace is like trying to keep up appearances when you are not living as your true self. Or keeping up with lies. It is a commitment that keeps you tired and stressed and confused. We set up so many rules for ourselves to make ourselves feel worthy of His love. When all the while grace is saying just receive it. And when others don't reach the goals we've set for our own selves, or when they break the rules that we have created (scripturally founded of course!) we shun them as failures, outcasts, less than our perfection. Because lowering them exalts us. But the example of Christ's grace shows us that we should accept people in their imperfection.
These lyrics ring truth in my heart
//We can't keep this up much longer, Grace is driving the hardest bargain The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in
I don't think he's threatened when we ask questions when we have doubts and disbeliefI don't think he's angry when we are human that's what he made us to be//
I love that. The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in. it is so true. And it is the truth of what the church is today. Grace allows everyone to come in. it is grace that pardons, grace that cleanses us within, and only his grace is greater than all sin. And he has bestowed upon us this grace that we may be gracious to one another.
So what is He teaching me? I am learning that I must accept people in the state that they are in. And that I must accept myself in the state I am in. Understanding that we are all reaching for the same goal. And the grace of God is the only way that we can walk together in peace and unity through the tumultuous transitions that get us there.
I think that the majority of us can clearly grasp the concept of what it means when we say that by grace we are saved. (Eph. 2:8-9) Never belittling the grace of the cross, this is the most basic "form" of grace. I say the most basic because it is the initial introduction to his grace. For it is by this grace that we come to the understanding that we may be saved.
My most recent revelation (for lack of a better word) of grace has less to do with God's grace on me and more to do with my grace, through Him, towards others and myself.
I have learned in my short 24 year existence that as people we think very highly of ourselves and very lowly of others. I suppose this is the nature of our human form but it is inexcusable for the believer. (Romans 12:3) Because of this self-righteousness we consider ourselves to be the authority on…well everything. This distorted view of ourselves gives us the false sense that we have the right to give our "wise" advice on everyone's life situations. Seated on our high horse we miss the fact that we just might be devastatingly wrong. This mindset is birthed from our belief that because we "do" everything right according to some man made standard of righteousness then we have earned a certain status in a spiritual society. This status is not God-ordained or even God-approved. We achieve this "status" by measuring ourselves against one another and by achieving personal goals. We get a sense of accomplishment and we feel successful. We feel we have earned the right to attain a new level in the hierarchy.
Not only does this make us feel that we are higher than others, it backfires on the individual too. When we fail at something we feel that God is displeased with us, and I personally can't even find His love through the condemnation. Oddly enough I have often found that when I feel I have failed God it is because I set a standard for myself that He didn't set for me… that is a common problem for overachievers. The result that follows is that we kill ourselves trying to keep up with what we think is the best, working within the flesh and not the spirit, and it isn't long before we fail.
This is where grace comes in. it is only by grace that I may serve God acceptably. (Hebrew 12:2) Attempting to serve God outside of the realm of grace is like trying to keep up appearances when you are not living as your true self. Or keeping up with lies. It is a commitment that keeps you tired and stressed and confused. We set up so many rules for ourselves to make ourselves feel worthy of His love. When all the while grace is saying just receive it. And when others don't reach the goals we've set for our own selves, or when they break the rules that we have created (scripturally founded of course!) we shun them as failures, outcasts, less than our perfection. Because lowering them exalts us. But the example of Christ's grace shows us that we should accept people in their imperfection.
These lyrics ring truth in my heart
//We can't keep this up much longer, Grace is driving the hardest bargain The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in
I don't think he's threatened when we ask questions when we have doubts and disbeliefI don't think he's angry when we are human that's what he made us to be//
I love that. The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in. it is so true. And it is the truth of what the church is today. Grace allows everyone to come in. it is grace that pardons, grace that cleanses us within, and only his grace is greater than all sin. And he has bestowed upon us this grace that we may be gracious to one another.
So what is He teaching me? I am learning that I must accept people in the state that they are in. And that I must accept myself in the state I am in. Understanding that we are all reaching for the same goal. And the grace of God is the only way that we can walk together in peace and unity through the tumultuous transitions that get us there.
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