Are you a person of grace?

Can you imagine if God extended conditional grace like insurance companies handle high risk people? Imagine Heaven sending a note like this…

Dear So and So
I’m writing in response to this morning’s request for forgiveness. I’m sorry to inform you that you have reached your quota of sins. Our records show that, since employing our services, you have erred seven times in the area of greed, and your prayer life is substandard when compared to others of like age and circumstance. Further review reveals that your understanding of doctrine is in the lower 20% and you have excessive tendencies to gossip. Because of your sins you are a high risk candidate for heaven. You understand that grace has its limits. Jesus sends his regrets and kindest regards and hopes that you will find some other form of coverage. (Max Lucado-Grip of Grace)

How about you, are you a person of grace?

Last week we looked at the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Really the story isn’t so much about the lost son who returned to the Father, it’s about the elder son that was with the Father the whole time. The shock of the story is that despite being with the Father, hardworking, and responsible, he had no qualities like his father.

His problem is ours, too often we can’t see sin in the mirror. While the father is able to forgive, love, and restore one who was lost. He is blinded by his own pride, self righteousness, and hate.
It's a Christianity that is not about helping others experience God's authentic grace that changes lives, it has an exclusive focus on three people...me, myself, and I. Grace can only change lives of people that know they need it.

Think about going to “The Church of the Elder Brother.” Can you feel the love, grace, restoring qualities of the Father?

Joseph Stowell, president of Moody Bible Institute, has said that the American Church is “long on mad, and short on grace.” We’re mad at politicians, we’re mad at the media, we’re mad at the President. We’re also mad at those who live their lives differently than we do. Lost people are going to sin because they’re lost. Christians are going to sin because they’re not perfect. We need grace so­ let’s refuse to be angry with people who sin differently than we do.

Worst of all the elder brother couldn’t enjoy God or his blessings. The father says to him “All I have is yours, you can enjoy it anytime”(Luke 15:31-32). Notice how it ends, everyone is celebrating in the home, thanking God over a changed life and the older brother is outside isolated, angry, and alone.

Hoping we strive to be people of grace.

Did You Miss First?

I recently read a story that makes a great point. (sorry I don't have the source)

Jacksonville Jaquers center Kevin Long, who played under Coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University, said his college coach inspired the team with parables. Long recounted a favorite story:

"[Bowden] was playing college baseball, and he had never hit a home run. Finally he hit one down the right-field line, into the comer. He rounded first without touching the base and looked to the third base coach. He turned at second, was halfway to third and the coach was still waving him on. He got to home, and he hit the plate. He had his first home run, he was so excited and everybody was slapping him high fives. Then the pitcher took the ball, threw it to the first baseman, and the umpire called him out.

[Coach Bowden] said, "If you don't take care of first base, it doesn't matter what else you do.”

It is easy to let the urgent distract from the most important things. Life is so short, let’s remember we are not here to just pay bills, be busy, and survive but to live for God and His Kingdom priorities.

This year’s theme has been “God’s mission, My mission.” Let’s not talk about what is important to God, let’s DO what is important.