Recently God has been bringing this word to my attention. (Probably because of that grocery store incident!) I wrote the word in my journal one morning and did a quick scripture study on it. Grace.
By definition grace means: favor or good will, mercy, clemency, pardon, forgiveness in judging or punishing, forbearance, compassion.
A few months back I was pulled over for speeding. I didn’t know I’d been speeding. (REALLY! I did not know!) But according to the good officer I was. You can bet in that moment I was hoping beyond hope for grace. Have compassion on me. Pardon my sin. Forgive and don’t punish. I was truly sorry. I didn’t mean to speed. It was an error due to lack of attention.
I got a ticket. I deserved it. I had broken a law. I was judged and punished fairly.
But how awesome would it have been if that police officer had said, “You know what? I’m feeling quite gracious today and I’m going to let this go with a warning. Slow down young lady!”
Oh how I want to be dealt with graciously.
But do I offer the same level of grace to others that I so quickly seek for myself? When I am wronged my human nature immediately becomes vengeful, wanting to retaliate. You know, “an eye for an eye”. I feel angry or hurt and desire the other to feel the same level of anger or hurt. I am tempted to tell people how deeply I’ve been offended so that they also can impart justice. It seems only right that if a law is broken, there must be retribution. I was speeding. I got a ticket. I paid a fine.
But that isn’t how it works in God’s economy. No, Jesus who is perfectly holy gave up his rightful place in heaven to come here for the sole purpose of good will, mercy, forbearance, forgiveness, compassion, pardon…grace.
And as followers of Christ, he is our example. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
This verse gives us two commands. Grow in the grace of Jesus. Grow in the knowledge of Jesus.
It’s easy to grow in the knowledge of Jesus. Read the Bible. Listen to a sermon. Read a Christian book. However, when you really start getting to know Jesus you find that his life was filled with incomprehensible grace. As my model, He asks me to love my enemies. Be good to those who hurt me. Forgive others seventy times seven. Give up my rights to retaliate. Turn the other cheek. No ticket. No fine. No punishment. Just grace.
That is my challenge. Growing in the grace of Jesus is toilsome. I fail and have to repent and try again. Always, always trying again. Thankfully there is One who empowers where I am lacking. Through His outrageous grace I am able.
I have decided that my One Word for 2012 will be grace. You’ll probably be hearing a lot on the topic. But for now, in this season where we celebrate the birth of the one who left His heavenly throne to bring grace to us all, let’s remember what we’ve been given and be “grace full” to those around us.
Now, go give grace!
