“Grace” and “Perspective” are two great words. Grace is great because it is there for us when we mess up in this daily experience called “life”. Perspective is important because it helps us see where we’ve come from and where we are today so that we can better develop a plan for how we are going to get to where the Father wants us to be.
A few weeks ago I was in a small group discussion where we discussed Grace and why we don’t fear the Lord today like Christians did in Biblical times. As we talked and shared, it occurred to me how often today I hear Christians (myself included) sitting in coffee houses, small groups, etc and readily discussing Grace like it is a “get out of jail card” that we sometimes focus too much on to avoid punishment from the Father in not truly living out the Scriptures.
Now don’t get me wrong. Grace is a great thing. Thank goodness for God‘s amazing grace when I screw up. However, many times we discuss Grace because it is more acceptable than condemnation (and nicer too). It is more attractive to non-Christians. It makes us feel more warm and fuzzy all over. Yet, while it is true that Grace abounds, it can be a dangerous road to go down if we focus too much on this wonderful gift to the exclusion of what the Scriptures want us to many times learn through the pains of life. This is especially important if we want to develop into fully surrendered children of a Heavenly Father that we should fear and respect above all else.
As I sat in that small group, listening to some great thoughts on the topic, the Father laid the following thought on my heart as something to consider.
It is the difference in:
1. Focusing on Grace first with the Scriptures as support and guidance for our living as Christians, versus
2. Focusing our lives on what is commanded of us from the Scriptures first, knowing we are imperfect individuals with Grace covering us WHEN we screw up.
This might sound trivial and could easily be viewed as such. However, to me, it is like focusing on the end result without the process for how we get there. It is the process that refines and develops us. It helps us to perfect Christ in us. It is those life experiences that forge us into, and give us the perspective for, doing what God uniquely designed each of us for here on earth.
So if one of our goals while we live here on earth is searching for God’s wisdom and His calling, or unique purpose, that He put us on this earth to accomplish (Proverbs 2:-8), shouldn’t we focus on helping each other intentionally live out the Scriptures while being thankful that we have Grace for when we make a mess of things instead of the other way around?
Grace is great. We all need it. However, there is danger in being “drunk in Grace”.
Be Blessed!
Chris
