The Law and Grace

 Scripture:
"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." -Romans 6:14

Reflection:
When I moved from Kentucky to New York City to go to college, it became clear to me that I was a legalistic Christian.  What I mean by that is that I thought you earned your salvation by following the rules.  This kind of attitude cheapens the sacrifice that Christ has made for me.  It makes me the author of my own salvation and I perform good works so I can feel I am superior to others.  When I live a life defined by grace, I understand that I am a sinner, Christ has saved me through his sacrificial blood and the gratitude of that makes me gracious to those around me.

 

I recently saw the movie version of "Les Miserables" and it is a fantastic example of what your life looks like when you are justified by the law versus justified by grace.  In case you are unfamiliar with the story, Jean Valjean is a man who lives his life committing mericiful and sacrificial acts to those around him because he was so moved by an act of sacrifice that was shown to him in the name of God.  Javert is a prison warden who spends years trying to hunt down Valjean because he stole some bread to feed his hungry family.  He even prays to God for help to put him behind bars saying, "so it is written on the doorway to paradise that those who falter and those who fall must pay the price."

 

Valjean and Javert both consider themselves man of God.  They both pray.  They both believe in God.  But one had been so radically transformed by the love of God that he showed mercy and love to others, including his enemies.  The other thought faltering and failing condemned you to hell apart from God and took it upon himself to punish those who had not followed "God's way."

 

We all have our moments of legalism, of unforgiveness and of self-righteousness.  It is in these moments that we believe we can earn our own salvation and we cheapen the sacrifice that was made for us.  By believing people can earn their salvation through their works, we become people who are deeply ungrateful for the nails that bore our sin on the cross of Christ. 

 

Prayer:

Our Father God, we often think that our own performance achieves us favor in your eyes.  For this, we ask for your forgiveness.  Not understanding our own sinfulness and not understanding the sacrifice of Christ makes us callous to the mercy you have shown us and to those we encounter around us. 

 

Taking the City

My devotional written today for The Redemptive Pursuit.  If you want to receive these weekly devotionals for women you can sign up here: www.tinyurl.com/devotionalsignup.



Scripture:
"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city."  -Proverbs 16:32

Reflection:
The TSA security line at the airport had a estimated wait time of 43 minutes.  My flight was departing in 45.  One lane was open to check passengers and baggage and I was becoming angrier with each passing moment.  I did not just complain to those around me.  I began lashing out.  At the TSA agents, the man who insisted he take another look at my bag, and when I got the gate I expressed my frustration to the ticket agent who had nothing to do with the security line.  She very politely let me know my complaints were not in her control.  Then I boarded the plane and expressed my frustration loudly and obnoxiously for all the passengers on the small plane to hear.

My temper may not have taken a city, but it certainly made everyone who interacted with me miserable for the time they were around me.  I was a warrior for my own cause.  And I did not care who it inconvenienced.

God cares more about my character than he does whether I am in the right or wrong in a given situation.  He is not impressed by how I let everyone know how inefficient their system was.  He was saddened that I couldn't control my temper.

Christ has nothing but patience for me.  Not just a patience that can wait through a long line but a patience that costs something.  He is gracious with me through my sinfulness.  Knowing he died for my sins should move me to love others out of an overflow of the love he has shown me.  And yet I am a slow learner.  But Christ did not treat those he disagreed with or those who wronged him with disdain or pride.  He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," and then he died to cover their offenses.

Perhaps next time I try to be a warrior for my own cause, I will remember that Christ in his humility was a warrior in his love for others.

Prayer:
God, forgive us for our self-centered tempers.  You have shown us that loving others should come before loving ourselves and we fail.  Thank you for caring for us so much that you cover our shortcomings and move our hearts to be fixated on you and not our own ambitions.

The Innkeeper

In light of the Connecticut shootings, this video is especially poignant for the holidays.  The death of children by Herod was one of the hallmarks of the first Christmas.  But Christ has come to defeat all death.  Amen.

The Innkeeper from Desiring God on Vimeo.

"The Lord will guide you always, he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
-Isaiah 58:11-12

Yesterday, I hit the end of myself.  In the midst of a family crisis, I have been trying to serve all of those around me and take care of people without prioritizing my own time with God each day.  And I realized yesterday that was boiling over into being totally drained and upset because I was running on fumes.  Only God will satisfy my needs in a sun-scorched land.  Only he can make me a spring whose waters do not fail or run dry.

 

People

I had to attend an Al-Anon meeting for a class. Al-Anon is for friends and family members of alcoholics. One of the attendees shared the following:

"People don't do things to you. People just do what they do."

This person was saying it in regard to the way his alcoholic family member kept hurting the family and his struggle not to take it personally.

If I could remember this for myself each time I offended by someone I could be a much more patient and loving person. When someone snaps at me on the subway or a friend or loved one has hurt me, these things are usually not personal. They have far less to do with me than they do the heart of the individual who is acting out. And my reaction can either feed their anxiety and continue a cycle of negative responses. Or I can choose not to take it personally, not to worry about my bruised ego and move on.

People don't do things to you. People just do what they do.

Reminder

"Everything is necessary that he sends. Nothing can be necessary that he withholds." - John Newton

Dealing with Despair

Check out this sermon by Paige Benton Brown called "When Despair Invades Gospel Work: Learning from Elijah". It's also a great sermon just to listen to when dealing with your despair in general.

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/name-index/a/Paige_Benton_Brown

And at the end she quotes Joni Eareckson Tada:

"Jesus didn't pass me by. He didn't overlook me. He answered my prayer, and He said, "No," and I'm glad. A "No" answer has purged sin from my life. It has strengthened my commitment to Christ and forced me to depend on his Grace. It has bound me with other believers. It has produced discernment. It has disciplined my mind and taught me to spend my time wisely. It has stretched my hope, increased my faith, and strengthened my character. Being in this wheelchair has meant knowing Christ better--feeling His strength every day...The Lord brought me here that I might thank Him for the wiser choice. The better answer. The richer path."