What is grace? Who needs grace, and why? Lets begin by understanding what grace is. Grace is described as a manner or act, a divine influence upon the heart and its reaction in the life that brings favor, liberty, joy, and life changing benefits. The best example known to man was when God sent His Son to earth as the ransom for our sin. What a remarkable picture of grace!
Another great display of grace is the event that is taking place in our family right now. In today’s world grace is unseen in so many lives. Even those of us who have experienced Gods grace through putting our trust in the death , burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ have issues with grace being recognized in our lives. So why is grace such a difficult task to display in our lives? Have you ever heard the saying, “You are your own worst enemy”. For me it’s my on selfishness that prevents my life from being a platform of grace. Just to give you an example: the room in my house where I’m typing this post is filled with things for me! These things are not life essentials nor do they have an impact for my survival, but they are simply things that feed the ME hunger that lives within me. It’s rooted in selfishness, and we all have it. Don’t panic, but you were born with the ME hunger, too. The ME hunger is the appetite for ourselves. The appetite that causes us to crave satisfying our own desire better know as pride. Now before you think I’m going to tell you we should all sell our possessions and live in a tent, please hear me out. I recently told Jennifer that as I look around I see a movement in our society that I call a “Me Society.” We live in a world where if we want it now, well, we can have it now. With internet and overnight shipment, my ME huger has never been easier to satisfy. Here is another example: how much would I know about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) if Jennifer had never had CKD, ummm…….. absolutely nothing. Why? For me I would be spending the majority of my time satisfying the ME hunger. I must confess that longing on the internet each day to search for a new charity or a way to volunteer my resources is not something that I would have done. It would be more like searching for what new purchase would satisfy the ole ME hunger. So to have a life where our platform is recognized as grace we must find ways to control our appetite when it comes to our own selfish desires. So grace would be the opposite act of the ME hunger.
Secondly who needs grace? I think it might be best ask this way, Who doesn’t need grace? Get the idea. We all need grace! We need to be a person of grace and receive grace from other people. Have you heard someone say ” That was an eye opener”. During my commute to work a few days a go I had a definite eye opener as I drove passed one of our local Baptist Service Center. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Baptist Service Center, it’s is a ministry provided by the local Baptist churches in the county where we live to assist individuals and families in need. I past by the line of people wrapped around the building waiting for the Center to open. The temperature was in the 20’s that morning. Each one of those people was definitely in need of grace. Throughout the day I could not get those people off my mind, I would see their face and would wonder what their story was. Later that evening during my commute home I was listening to the radio and heard a man who was filled with anger because he had to stand in line 1 1/2 hours to get in to the Super Dome to watch the National Championship Game. I could not help but think about those I saw earlier standing in the cold to get assistance with food, clothing, utilities, medicine or some other need, just to survive and in need of grace. Then my thoughts went back to the gentlemen on the radio who was still complaining about the poor logistics of the gates at the game. Now here is a man who probably paid plenty of money for his tickets to get in the game ( no one forced him to go to the game), not to count the game day attire he probably bought, travel expenses, hotel rooms and I’m sure a few nice meals too. He had a bad case of the ME hunger! I say this while I’m a huge Alabama fan and do not disagree with him going to the game nor anyone else so please don’t miss my point. My point is he was so self-consumed with what he thought was a crisis he did not even realize how blessed he was to not be standing in a different line to receive assistance to simply survive.
My goal in this post was for you to see the importance of being people of grace, and how the ME hunger can destroy grace in our lives. I challenge you to be a person who looks for opportunities to share grace with others. Do you want more grace in your life? Do you want to be known as someone with compassion? Do you want to conquer the ME hunger? If so, then I have good news. James 4:6 tells us God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble. If we will just be a person of humility God will provide the grace we so desperately need. Thanks Derek for being a person filled with grace and humility, my family will once again be changed forever because of grace.
Pressing on,
Jason
Jason, I guess you might get tired of my comments, but I am enjoying this blog journey with you and Jennifer so much. I just have to tell you how extremely proud I am of you and your walk with God!! I can remember looking out my door and watching you and Todd on your tricycles playing in the ditch out here between us and your Mom and Dad. I never could have imagined the Godly men you two would someday grow up to be. And you both have Godly wives to walk this walk beside you!! I am so proud of both of you!! You and Jennifer are truly blessing my heart with your words. I’m sure you both have all your bases covered, but if there is anything I can do for you PLEASE let me know.Sending my love and prayers your way!!
Clara
Never get tired of comments, we actually love them! The best times growing up was when Todd and I would hang out and build forts, make trails for our bikes and live on the creek behind our house. Those were the “good ol’days!
Jason
Jason,
Thank you for that humbling sermon!! I feel like I have been to church and again the sermon was for me! I get so caught up in the ME hunger sometimes that I forget about how blessed I am. I thank GOD that he chose me to be a teacher because I am reminded through the sad lives that so many of my students live that GRACE will carry us through!! My love and prayers are with you and family!!
Jackie
Jackie,
Your such a special friend to Jennifer. You always make her day brighter when you come in for a hair fixing LOL! Thank you for your friendship with Jennifer.
Jason