When Grace Moves In

The great theme of grace continually captivates my heart.  It is a topic that is essential for every person to understand, for we are all in need of great grace from God almighty. 

It seems that when we talk about grace, guilt comes along for a ride, and takes over the wheel. 

Perhaps we can find some encouragement in the middle of this maze.

When we ponder the words GRACE and GUILT, we have to break them down.

Grace is all about …

Help

  Forgiveness

    Tolerance

      Kindliness

        Mercy

          Benevolence

            Leniency

              Decency.

Guilt speaks of …

  Blame

    Guiltiness

      Remorse

        Shame

          Self-reproach.

So what do we do?  How do we accept the GRACE of God without the guilt that our minds dump on us?

I found something today that may jump-start us.

“When grace moves in… guilt moves out”

~Max Lucado

We claim to be under the grace of God.  We tell others that we are living in grace, and we actually start believing in this grace thing, and that is good.

And then along comes guilt.  Just when we think we've got it all together, we come up with guilt over all sorts of issues.

I’m ashamed of what I did.

I’m to blame for my actions.

I am at fault.

How can I be declared worthy?  If you only knew the real me.

Visit Max’s quote again – “When grace comes in, guilt moves out.”

Now that is an empowering thought.  That is what God intended all along, I think. 

Let’s revisit the list of synonyms for “grace”.

Help

Forgiveness

Tolerance

Kindliness

Mercy

Benevolence

Leniency

Decency

I don’t see “guilt" in that list. 

Let’s re-work our own sense of worthiness when it comes to grace and acceptance. 

Grace frees

     Guilt binds

Grace tolerates

     Guilt is impatient

Grace is lenient

     Guilt is harsh and demanding

Grace is decent

     Guilt is mean-spirited

Grace is forgiving

     Guilt is condemning

“Oh for grace to trust him more” - wise words from the old hymn. 

I can hear the cries about now … “Then give us some weapons to fight the guilt and help move it along so we can live in grace.”

2 Corinthians 2:8-9

“My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power shows up best in weak people.”

Romans 4:15-16

“The law brings wrath, but where there is 

no law there is no infraction.  

That is why it depends on faith, 

so that we can take confidence 

in the grace that is offered 

for all his offspring.”

Romans 5:19-21

“By one man’s obedience 

many will receive grace 

and righteousness.  

The law came about 

to highlight the sin, 

but where sin increased, 

grace abounded all the more.” 

We can see with amazing clarity exactly what Max’s comment means.

We are under grace, the great grace of God Almighty. 

As a final reminder, let’s revisit this well-known chestnut of a Bible verse.

John 3:16-17

“God loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son, and whoever believes in him shall not perish, but enjoy eternal life.  God did not send His Son to condemn us, but to save us.

That sounds like a lot of love and grace to me.  We can do a top-to-bottom house-cleaning, for guilt has moved out.

To God be the glory!

  

P Michael Biggs

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