Reading 33

Romans 12-15

If you had asked me as a 3rd grader how someone was saved, and able to go to heaven. I would've told you "it's by grace." I have known for a long time that it is impossible to get to heaven by being a good person. However, there was a misconception in my mind. I knew it was by God's grace that I was saved, but I thought I deserved God's grace. It wasn't my good works that got me to heaven, but it was my good works that got me grace to get to heaven. Isn't that funny how things can get twisted in our minds?
Just in the last few years have I been broken over how UNDESERVING I am. It is HARD to accept grace. I can think of specific instances where I have been unkind, just downright mean to my friends and family, and they have responded with patience and love. They are showing me pictures of God's grace, and I usually reject those pictures. I feel so horrible over how I treated them, that the last thing I want is for them to respond to my meanness with kindness. I think it would be easier for me if they yelled at me or something. Then I wouldn't feel so guilty. Grace is hard to accept because it requires humility, because grace is undeserved. Pastor Nils told a story at church where Cornerstone had put on a free car wash, and they ended up making like $200. People do not like free gifts, we like to think that we "earned or deserved" whatever we receive.

Can you think of a time where you had difficulty receiving grace? In Romans 12 vs.20 Paul says "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Paul is quoting a verse in Proverbs 25:21-22 in that passage. Think about that...

I like to think that I don't have enemies. Nope, I like everyone, I get along everyone (hopefully you can hear the sarcasm in that statement). Although enemy is a harsh term, there are people that I find it difficult to treat with love. People who I struggle to have patience with. There are times in my life where I am the one that people have a hard time loving. I'm the one who tests people's patience. When those people respond to me by feeding me, or giving me something to drink...I am broken.

I don't think this verse is telling us to take revenge by doing the action that will hurt our "enemy" the most, I think it's telling us to learn to give grace. Grace humbles and breaks people. As we show them grace, we are being pictures of Jesus. My prayer is that we can all learn to give AND RECEIVE grace.

Andrea

Reading #33 (audio)