Searching for Grace

 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”  Romans 5:1(NIV)

 

Have you ever been at a juncture in your Christian walk where you doubted God’s grace covered the sin you had committed?

As I recounted in an earlier blog, Church Is Full of Hypocrites, I can assure you, this is what kept my father from entering the doors of a church for years. It wasn’t only because of his sins, but what he outwardly judged as the sins of others. He had the impression that you had to be in a state of perfection to sit in a pew. Wrongfully so, I might add.

I experienced this phenomenon at a very young age. I truly believed all the adults in my life were perfect. At the age of five, I was given a live gift of several ducklings to take care of. My greatest wish was to see them swim. Slipping out back one morning to dutifully feed them and see if I could interest them in swimming, I inadvertently drowned one of the ducklings. I tried frantically to revive it. I knew I had to face my parents, and on trembling legs, I did so. I had taken a life.

You do not have to attend church long to know that taking a life is not a sin easy for man to forgive, what would God think of me? I was deeply ashamed. A miracle happened when confessing with a trembling voice. My earthly parents met the news of my sin with love, understanding, and forgiveness.

Grace is a concept hard for many of us to grasp. Have you ever tried to do something for someone, a co-worker or a neighbor out of the goodness of your heart and because they were not Christians, they were suspicious of your motives? I’ve had this happen several times. I bring this up now because grace is offered to us from God in just that situation, with no strings attached:

1.      There is not one person on earth that deserves grace.

2.      We cannot earn grace. Not by good works, by being a good person, or by a large bank account.

3.      Grace is there for the taking … for everyone. It doesn’t matter what corner of the world we live in; the good news is here for everyone! Each one of us comes to grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are justified through the blood. You see, Christ’s crucifixion was not the ending of a story, the end of a thirty-three-year life, it is the completion of a promise. God sacrificed his son for our salvation. Christ knew of his destiny, and he went willingly. None of us deserve the sacrifice, yet we have received it freely. Christ’s crucifixion is the beginning of a beautiful story of love.

“This righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans3:22-24

 

Do you feel separated from God in your life at this moment? Fear not. There are times in each of our lives when we become separated from our Lord and Savior. Perhaps you just became busy, involved in this modern life, disinterested, or angry over a situation that truly had nothing to do with God. God is waiting next to you now.

Please remember: It is always us that has moved, not God. He stays with us, waiting for us to reach out and take his hand once more. Grace awaits each one of God’s children.

Today:

1.      Begin reading your Bible again. Do you have a favorite passage, or are you new at reading the Bible? Just sit down and open it up. God will guide you. Read a bit each day.

2.      Pray each day. A few moments in prayer can heal your heart and soul. Just speak with God as if he is an old friend: He is.

When you feel ready, either go into a service near you or call a Pastor at a nearby church to learn more about their services and what they believe. They will be there to welcome you when you come in the following Sunday