Conduit of Grace

"You will know that I am the LORD,

when I deal with you for 

my name's sake

and not according to your evil ways

and your corrupt practices, O house of Israel,

declares the Sovereign LORD."

Ezekiel 20:44

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

so that we might die to sins

and live for righteousness; 

by his wounds you have been healed."

1 Peter 2:24

Serial killer Ted Bundy was executed on January 24, 1989.   On January 25, 1971 Charles Manson received a sentence of life in prison where he continues to live today.  Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini was executed by firing squad on April 29, 1945.  Dictator and mass murderer Saddam Hussein was hung on December 30, 2006.

We know how to deal with someone whose sin is so blatantly evil.  Justice is served swiftly and surely, without hesitation or question. It's easy to know the punishment that they deserve. 

If God treated my sin the same way, I could not stand.  My pattern of rebellion and unfaithfulness is similar to that of the nation of Israel.  I deserve death because of my sin. . . but God sent His Son to serve out my death sentence so that I might live.

I'm not so bad,though, am I?  Compared to the mass murderers listed above, I'm pretty good.  But God isn't looking for pretty good.  His standard is perfection. . . and I fall far short.  I am not so different from the Israelites whose pattern of rebellion and unfaithfulness was consistent throughout history.  Thankfully, He doesn't choose us according to our merit.  He chose us according to His great love and for His namesake.

God's Law

There is a stop sign in our neighborhood that is mostly ignored.  Most drivers simply roll right through it, failing to understand it's purpose.  One day, my daughters were walking a group of children home when the reason for this stop sign became excruciatingly clear: a driver failed to stop and was forced to slam on his brakes to keep from running down those who were in his path.  With all the young people in the neighborhood, stop signs are important for slowing down the flow of traffic and keeping drivers alert to their surroundings. The seemingly useless signs save lives. 

All laws are designed for a purpose.  Those who obey the rules are showing respect for the makers of the law and their judgement, trusting that there was a good reason for them to create that rule.    

I understand and agree with some of God's rules .  Don't Kill.  Don't lie.  Don't steal.  I have witnessed the pain committing these acts can cause to those innocently caught in the fallout.  It makes sense to me that God put those commandments into place.

Others are more difficult to understand and carry out.  Love my enemies.  Turn the other cheek.  Vengeance belongs to God.  These are the ones I have a more difficult time obeying.  My lack of understanding of the purpose for these laws does not annul their existence.  I am not exempt from loving those who are trying to hurt me just because I don't agree with the premise.  If I claim Jesus as my Lord, I must trust that He had a reason for creating this rule.  When I obey Him without agreeing, I am demonstrating my respect and deference to Him as Lord of my life.

I am much like the Israelites who failed to pay attention to God's laws.  They may have followed some of them, but they didn't take Him or all of His law seriously.  Instead, they did things their way, angering God.  

I am no better.  Thankfully, God does not deal with me according to my practices and hard heart.  Instead, He sent Jesus as a conduit of grace, delivering salvation to me through simple faith in Jesus. 

My lack of adherence to God's law earns me a death sentence, but Jesus' sacrifice offers me the assurance of everlasting life.  

Sabbath

"I can't get all my work done in six days. . .I need Sunday to play catch-up. . .  I feel guilty not doing any work. . .  I have so many things I want to do, I can't put them off for another day. . .  The Sabbath law no longer applies; it is old an archaic. . . God doesn't mind if Sunday looks the same as any other day."  These are all excuses I can use to break the Sabbath.

Here is what God says about it.  He said, "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD you God has commanded you.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.  On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter. . . " (Deuteronomy 5:12-14)

The Sabbath is not so much about me, but about God.  As one of His people, the way I live my life reflects on Him.  By keeping the Sabbath, I am showing His holiness to the people around me.  I am demonstrating His separation from a dark and sinful world.  I am exhibiting how He is above all things.  

God said in Ezekiel 20:20  to "keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the LORD your God." (NLT)  

It is easy for my life to become just like those around whom I live, just as it was for the Israelites.  God called His people to be set apart from the nations around them.  As a follower of Christ and member of His body, I am also called to be different.  

One of the ways I can point to God with my life is to stand out like a sore thumb by resting on Sunday.  No work.  No running errands. No darting from activity to activity.  No chores.  Whatever it is I do Monday through Saturday should stop on Sunday.  In this way, I set myself apart and glorify God with my life.

My unwillingness to keep the Sabbath holy earns me God's wrath, but the grace of God that is found through the death of Christ has quenched that anger.

One and Only God

I love watching children singing in a group. The choir director stands in front as the young choir members file quietly onto the risers, forming rows of smartly dressed and neatly coiffed singers.  Some of the children keep their eyes riveted to the choir director.  Others get distracted by the children around them, whispering secrets in each other's ears.  Still others scan the crowd for their parents, sneaking in waves and smiles to them during the entire performance.  

The way I live my life is similar.  I am dressed in my finest, ready to give the performance of a lifetime. I have the best intentions of pleasing God.  Then I get distracted by selfish desires or minor irritations.  I take my eyes of my Savior and get off task, forgetting why I'm here.  Other times I revel in the position God has placed me, attempting to garner attention for myself instead of accomplishing the mission to which God has called me.  

God is like my choir director.  He wants my single-minded and constant attention.  I, however, am like the Israelites who constantly turned to idols and other gods, replacing the One True God with other things that became more important. 

My unfaithfulness to God as my One True Love earns me the title of Enemy of God, but this infidelity was also borne on the tree, giving me the freedom to become a part of His family.

Despite my resemblance to the nation of Israel who constantly disobeyed God's Law, failed to set apart the Sabbath, and whose eyes strayed to idols and gods, I am not treated as my sins deserve.  Instead, God has redeemed me for His namesake through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son.

As one who has been reconciled, it is my heart's desire to please God in all that I do.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will strive to keep God at the forefront of my attention.

How do show that I have forgotten the amazing grace that saved me from my rightful punishment?

How do I take this astounding grace for granted and fail to live my life in a way that pleases God?

A Just Judge

"When they hurled their insults at him,

he did not retaliate;

when he suffered,

he made no threats.

Instead,

he entrusted himself to 

him who judges justly."

1 Peter 2:23

We live in a litigious society where people are quick to file a lawsuit at the slightest sign of insult, injury or perceived injustice.  Even children carry this attitude where common phrases used in the school yard include, "Oh no you didn't!" or "I'm gonna deck you in the throat." Everyone is ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

In contrast, Jesus had every right to defend himself before his accusers.  They mocked Him, beat Him, humiliated Him and brutally killed Him.  As the divine Son of God, He had all authority to save Himself.  If anyone deserved respect, it was Him. If anyone was completely innocent of all charges, it was Him.  If anyone had the right to be angry at the treatment He received, it was Him.  But He, "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10:45)

Jesus came on a mission. . . a mission to save the people from the penalty of our sins.  As One who was sent by His Father for this purpose, He was willing to put Himself at the mercy of cruel people for our sake, knowing that the Father's justice would prevail.  It seemed like He was losing the battle, but He would ultimately win the war. 

What would it look like if I entrusted my case to God; A Just Judge?

Submit to Authority  

My palms started to sweat as a saw the familiar blue flashing light pull in behind me, keeping pace with me as I drove through the intersection. I'm sure he's going after someone else, I comforted myself and confidently eased to the right, giving him room to pass.  To my horror, he shadowed my movement, coming to a stop directly behind my van. 

Oh No!  

A boy who looked to be fresh out of high school walked up to my window and asked, "Ma'am, did you see the signal turn red?"

"Yes, you need to check this light because the timing is off.  The yellow always seems to be much shorter than all the other lights.  It throws me off every time."  I instruct as I justify my transgression to the officer.  

"I'll make sure they check this signal,"  the young man reassured me as he tore off the ticket and handed it to me.

As you can see, I am not always good at submitting to authority.  I usually am more concerned with defending myself or making sure that no one takes advantage of me.  In the above example, I was clearly in the wrong and should have taken my punishment quietly and compliantly.  

There are times, however, when corruption exists in positions of power and leadership and people are treated unjustly. Men have served years in jail for crimes they did not commit.  Some have lost jobs for reasons that are less than honest.  Others become a scapegoat for someone else's indiscretion, their life left as a heap of ruins in the wake of the scandal.  That's not fair!

If I hand over authority to God to defend me, trusting that He will judge fairly and impartially, I can rest easy knowing that justice will be served.  But there is another reason as revealed in 1 Peter 2:15.  When I submit myself to authority for the Lord's sake, ". . .it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."

God has a way of using my obedience to put people in their place.  There is no need for me to try and do it myself.  Instead, I can trust God with that task.

If I trust God to serve as the just judge in my life, I can rest easy, knowing that, "those who walk in pride he is able to humble."  (Daniel 4:37b) 

Live as Free Men

I am not free when I feel the need to defend myself against perceived injustice carried out against me.   False accusation. . . unkind words. . . unfair treatment. . . lack of understanding.  All of these seemingly benign acts can trigger my inner soldier, sending me to take up my battle position.

When I instead let God act as my defender, I am free to live as He has called me to live.  I can show proper respect to everyone.  As one who no longer needs to defend, I can freely love my siblings in Christ.  I naturally fear God, showing Him reverence above all.  I am able to honor the president or any other leader, even when I don't agree with him.  (1 Peter 2:17)

Giving God the authority in my life to protect me and look after me instead of taking on that role myself, means I am free.

If I trust God to act as my guardian, I am free to love as He has loved me.  

Serve Wholeheartedly

"Good enough for government work."  I've used this phrase more than once in my life to describe a mediocre job completed that met the standards but did not exceed them.  I did just enough to get by.

Once I turn judgement and guardianship over to God, however, I can go well beyond putting forth this second-rate effort.   I can do whatever job I find myself doing with all my heart, as if I were serving God Himself.  Even though I may feel unappreciated here and now, my godly attitude is not ignored by the One who will reward according to what I have done.

When I'm changing diapers for the umpteenth time today, God notices the tender loving care I give to my baby.  When I utter a silent prayer for my grumpy boss who always seems to be out to get me,  the LORD appreciates my tender heart.  When I clean up after others without saying a word, using it as a ministry of God's love, He sees my efforts.  

Commendation is nice and gratifying, but what I truly want is for God to say at the end of my life, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

If I trust God as the giver of rewards, I can serve Him wholeheartedly in whatever I do, doing my very best for Him.

I am quick to take up my case before men, defending myself and looking for the respect I think I earned, but God has another way.  If I entrust justice, my protection and desire for reward to Him, I will be able to submit to authority, live freely and serve wholeheartedly.

In this way I am able to do with my life as Robert Browning said and, ". . . make the absolute best of what God made."  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to defend me when I feel threatened.

How do I look for ways to defend myself instead of being free to love others?

When do I only do what is necessary instead of doing my very best for God?

Why am I Here?

"For even the Son of Man 

did not come to be served, 

but to serve, 

and to give his life 

as a ransom for many."

Matthew 10:45

Jesus did not have an identity problem.  He knew His purpose and the position He chose in this world and this knowledge shaped His life as a man.  When He entered His creation as the long awaited Messiah, many were expecting a King who would be exalted over all the nations and a Savior who would save them from their worldly troubles.  What they didn't expect was the reality of God's plan for the King of Kings and Savior of the world!

Servant  I learned how to serve my husband by watching my younger sister in her marriage.  When it's time to eat, she dishes him up first, no matter how hungry she is.  She thinks of little ways to serve him throughout the day by anticipating his needs while he's at work, or getting certain chores done that she knows are important to him.  She possesses the heart of a servant.     Jesus possessed this same spirit.  He chose to lower Himself to the position of a subordinate in order to please His Father.  He did not expect to be treated in a certain way, but instead humbled Himself for the sake of those He loves: His Father and His people.  In this season of giving that generates incredible stress and high expectations, how can I humble myself for the sake of my Father and those He has placed around me?

Donor  I have heard stories of people who have given vital organs, such as a kidney, to a complete stranger in order that they might live.  These kinds of stories always make the news because they are so rare, but there is always some kind of pay off for the donor.  It could be simply a feeling of goodwill that they receive as a result of this selfless gesture, or it could help them move beyond some feelings of guilt for past wrongs that they have committed.  Whatever the reason, humans are incapable of selfless sacrifice in and of their own strength.  Jesus, however, gave His life selflessly and He deserves to make the front page headlines each and every day.  He was only thinking of His love for His Father and His desire to obey Him, as well as His love for mankind who is powerless to repair his broken relationship with God the Father.  Jesus gave His life so that I might live, and live a full and meaningful life, not just an existence. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (I Peter 2:24)  Christmas has become a time when I focus on meeting expectations and creating memories for my family and friends.  How is this honoring the sacrifice Jesus made for me?  I am redeemed by His blood and are free to live for Him.  In living for Jesus, all other pressures will fall away until He is all that remains.

This Christmas season I will remember the reality of Jesus.  The King of Kings became a servant, and the Savior of the world appeared as a life-giving donor.  This did not meet the expectations of the people, but it was just as God had planned and this plan can change the way I view my purpose as His child.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can focus on God's plan for me and not on the expectations I have for myself, or that others may hold over me.

How do I minimize the sacrifice Jesus made for me, especially as I celebrate Christmas?

Where am I exalting myself above those around me in the attitude I carry?