I was thinking of how many times I have had to utter those
famous words, “I’m sorry!” Lisa loves me, so she has never failed to forgive
me, even for the tough stuff. Then I started thinking about my relationship
with Jesus. Sadly, I can’t count the number of times I have felt the need to
tell him I am sorry. Sometimes I mess up big, sometimes small, but I cannot
remember a time where he did not forgive me. In fact, when I recognized my
error, he was the one coming to me to let me know he forgave me.
The reason any of us want to apologize to Jesus is because
he has sought us out to forgive us. It is really quite remarkable! We do not
come to Jesus because we are wrong, he comes to us so we may be made right. In
spite of my sin the Son of God (Jesus) chose to make things right on our
behalf. His birth, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension all witness the
grace of God on our behalf.
Grace is a term we use a lot; we love to sing about it.
Grace is the activity of God to bring humanity back into a relationship with
him. He doesn’t offer grace based on our apology. If that were the case, then
we are the initiators and he is the one who responds. Instead, He initiates the
relationship and we respond by recognizing our separation and receiving the
gift he offers through his Son. When we recognize we naturally want to say, “I
am so sorry!”
What has captured my thoughts today is the fact that God
forgave us while we were still sinners (his enemies). He loved us enough to
send Jesus to die, even before we knew we were seperated from God. Here is the
kicker, now that I am in relationship with God through Jesus, I must also be an
agent of his grace. You know, that grace that forgave before asked. Ouch!
I recently did a funeral where a woman was carrying
unforgiveness with a neighbor. The neighbor presumably had taken some jewelry
from her mother (never officially proved). I thought: While I was yet a sinner Jesus gave his life for me so I might be
forgiven. I see a lot of political junk on Facebook, what if “Christians”
offered forgiveness to those running for office, the way Jesus did for us. I am
not saying you have to vote for them, but really what does forgiveness language
sound like. For those of us who have heard the voice of Jesus speaking to our
heart, what did it sound like?
As a grace agent, how does the voice of Jesus sound from my
lips. Forget, the far off politician, what about my brother or sister, my
mother or father, etc? What would my life look life if I initiated forgiveness
(Grace)? What if I treated others and blessed others as though they were
forgiven, even if they never respond to the offer?
When we sing of Amazing Grace, and then don’t offer it, we
are hypocrites. Jesus once told his disciples, if you do not forgive you are not
forgiven. Forgiveness is not passive, it is active. It is not a response, it
initiates response. Once we are forgiven then we must forgive, otherwise we
have not truly received, or understood forgiveness. I sure hope I am not a
black hole of grace, just sucking up grace, but never offering it. I would much
rather be a mirror of grace. I God’s grace reflects off my life, may it
illuminate the lives of others, so that they might see Jesus.
Who in your life today needs grace?
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