Grace

What if, in the Super Bowl, the outcome was determined by how forgiving the referees were and not by the score on the scoreboard? 

What if our paycheck was dependent upon the graciousness of our employer, rather than our output or success in handling customers and projects?

Let’s talk about Grace for a few minutes.  It is an often misunderstood concept and I think it is much easier to grasp than we might think.

Start with this:

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  

~Hebrews 4:16

This man knew a lot about the grace of God.  Read his words.

“Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we have played the game.”

~Brennan Manning

Isn't that amazing?  We are victors regardless of how well we played.  

Unheard of!

Are you a doer?  Do you get your kicks from earning goody points on a chart so you can justify your existence and look back over your life and have bragging rights on a life well lived? 

Consider this:

“Grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us.  Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, “Be good.”  Jesus’ stories contradict that answer.  All we must do is cry, ‘Help!”

It seems to me that God operates on a completely different level from the one we humans use.  We measure success and winning based on the outcome of a game, or a quarter’s stats or the end-of-the-year balance sheet.  If everything checks out then we are heroes.  If not, we are less than wonderful, and maybe our job is in jeopardy.

But not God -

“I am wonderfully content with a God who doesn't deal with me as my sins     deserve.”

~Brennan Manning

That is GRACE. 

                Do-over

                  Forgiveness

                     Reconciliation

                        Restoration

Do you know what this says to me?  Listen carefully.

God is not mad at you.

If we wander away, God continually looks for us around the next bend in the road.  And as we crest the hill on our way home, God runs to us. 

He RUNS to us!

He accepts us, not as a servant, but as a son/daughter.

That is Amazing GRACE - Abundant MERCY - Furious LOVE.

What a GOD!

Now watch this hope-filled music video.  It's more than you think. 

Amazing Grace

My Prayer for All of Us

God of Grace:

That you love us and redeem us, just for the asking is … well, it’s amazing.

-We want to do things to earn your grace.

-We want to jump through hoops.

-We want to become doers.

-We want to clean up first and get our stuff together. 

Yet you simply want receivers.  You want us to be still and know you and your peace and love and … yes, GRACE.

So here we are God.  We stand ready to receive you, your love, your peace, and your grace.

The only thing we can do – is give thanks.  Thank you God.

Amen.

P Michael Biggs

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