A Lesson for a Lifetime

A few years ago a friend asked me, “If you could teach children only one thing about God, what would it be?”

Tough question.

I answered with the usual disclaimers.

My answer final answer?  
Grace!

Why grace?

Grace is the one thing that empowers discipleship. Children can (and should!) learn about holiness, righteousness, the sovereignty of God, the judgment and a number of other things that teach us about God and what it means to live in His will. But grace is the singular thing that keeps us stepping into faith every day.

We are wrapped in skin.  We sin.  We fall down.  We blow it.  

The reality of our frailty as human beings can (and often is!) overwhelming.

I think this is the number one reason why so many Christians simply throw their hands up and quit.  We equate failure with value.  “Are we loveable?” we ask.  “Nope.”  So…we check it in and live out our days wandering what “gospel, kingdom, hope, forgiveness” are supposed to mean on a practical level

I remarked to my friend that I am struck again and again with how many stories in scripture set before us the failures of God’s people BUT also show us God’s response to the same.    

The landscape of Scripture is covered with them.

And, these stories remind us that God wants us to love Him back.  He wants us to look to Him for strength and wisdom.  In our moments of failure He wants us to realize that He wants us – everybody – to enjoy His presence and love in the hereafter.

That’s the bottom line of Christ’s entry into human experience.

It’s the baseline of his ministry.

It is the bright thread woven through his teachings.

And, it is the bold declaration of his death and resurrection.

But do we remember that….really?

We need to.

Think about these scriptures this week:

Hebrews 2:17 – “Therefore, he had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 10:22 “ – …let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

We need to remember these truths about God and about our relationship with Him.

Do you remember?

Oh Father, thank you for your indescribable gift.  We are weak but you are strong.   Bring to our minds in our moments of spiritual failure that you love us and desire relationship with us.  Strike from our minds the slanderous statements that Satan assaults us with that can lead to despair and estrangement from you.  Help us to always look up knowing that you offer us through your son every help we need to draw near to you in wisdom, peace and strength.  Because of Jesus…Amen

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas