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. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
We stand in GRACE!
not condemnation -- which we deserve;
not hopelessness -- which is what we have earned;
not FEAR -- which is what is rightfully ours;
WE STAND IN GRACE.
I try hard to teach my kiddos what GRACE is because it is sometimes hard to grasp the FULLNESS of it. When they screw up [for example, like when Hannah scattered by brand-new cotton balls all over the bathroom negating them of their sterile condition], I say to them, "Did you ________________ (insert offense here, for example: throw all of Momma's cotton balls all over the ground)?" [furtive nod.... rarely do words come in these times]
"Did you know it was wrong to do that?" [another little nod]
"Do you deserve to be disciplined?" [one more nod... even smaller... because admitting to this part is even harder]
And every once in a while, when they have done something wrong, typically when it is something BIG (not something donkey like cotton balls) and only when I can see they are contrite about their sin, I say to them, "You did ________________ (insert offense here, for example: throw all of Momma's cotton balls all over the ground) and you do deserve to be disciplined, but instead I am going to give you GRACE, just like Jesus gives us."
The other day I was in a rush. I just didn't have time for the discipline part. I just zipped through a scolding and didn't take time to dole out the consequence. (I wasn't trying to teach about GRACE. I was just trying to get back to working.) I heard Noah say to Hannah as she walked away from my lecture, "See that's GRACE Hannah." So apparently it is sinking in for my babies. Has it sunk in for you?
Ask yourself? Have I done something wrong?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
We ALL have done something wrong.
Did I know it was wrong?
c'mon... be HONEST! you knew it was wrong to lose your temper like that! you knew it was wrong to talk about that person in that manner! you knew God didn't WANT you to ______________ (fill in the blank with cheat, steal, lie, betray).
Do I deserve discipline for my sin?
For the wages of sin is death.
Romans 6:23
We ALL deserve death.
Now STOP! and let this wash over you.... GRACE.... Instead of what we rightfully deserve, God gives us GRACE.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Today for just a little bit, focus on the GRACE of God. You did it. You deserve the punishment. But He gives you GRACE instead, and we stand in GRACE. Isn't that beautiful?
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