Grace

Submitted by David Miller
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit… Titus 3:5

Let's say you're driving down the road and you're in a hurry. Maybe you're late picking up the kids, maybe you’re late to a dental appointment, or maybe you're late to church on Sunday morning because you are so anxious to get here and listen to the preacher. Regardless of the reasons, a police officer decides that it is in your best interest that he slows you down so he pulls you over for speeding. He asks you for your driver’s license and your proof of insurance.  Suddenly, you realize that you forgot to put your insurance card in the car. As you explain this to the police officer, he looks over at your inspection sticker which is now expired for three months. The officer asks you to wait in your car and he will be right back. You anxiously wait for him to return to the car knowing that you're going to be signing for your mistake this morning.

The officer has three choices to make. First, he writes you a citation for all three violations. Second, he writes you for one or two of the violations and gives you a warning on the others. Choice 3, he simply lets you go without any tickets. We would all prefer the third choice.

If the police officer writes you a ticket for each violation, that would be justice. You get what you deserve. You have to face the judge. If he chooses to write you one of the tickets but not the others, that's mercy. We are not getting all that we deserve. You don't get what you deserve but you still have to face the consequences of what happened. If he chooses to let you go and not right you any tickets even though you deserve to be punished, that's grace. We get something we do not deserve.

We see these elements of God's nature at work today. God is a just God. He cannot tolerate sin. He is righteous and holy and the darkness of our sin cannot dwell in his presence. If we do not repent for our sins, we will face judgment.  We will get what we deserve. 

Many times in our lives we see God exercising mercy. We have to face the consequences for our actions but God protects us from the full throttle of our sin.  But then comes Easter. And that is when God demonstrated grace to us. Romans 5:8 (NASB) ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

His grace flowed through the blood that was shed on Calvary for us. I am absolutely convinced that if I've been the only person on the face of the earth ever to sin, Christ would've still came and died just for me. God's love and grace is beyond anything that we can even fathom. Christ hung on a cross and died to extend that grace to us. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and ^[a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Not only did Christ extend His grace to us on the cross through his death, and then Sunday came. Christ came out of the grave to make His mercy and His grace come alive in our hearts and then gives us the power to live for Him and through Him in all things. Galatians 2:20 (NASB) ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;

Yes, God is just, yes God is merciful, but God is also gracious. So while were attending the services, hunting the Easter eggs, looking for that ever evasive rabbit, or enjoying dinner with our families, let us not forget the grace that was demonstrated to us and may we be thankful that He loved us enough to let us drive away in His love rather than having to face the judge and get what we truly deserve.  Thank God for His amazing grace.

Scripture to Claim:
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28