Grace and a Blind Eye

It's been a while since I have posted here... it certainly is not because God and I haven't been talking. In fact, our relationship has been very active. But, I have been very busy at work, at church, at home. It has been a bit overwhelming...just plain busy. I am going to go out on a limb and assume a few of you out there know what I am talking about. And, there is no way I can go back over the last few months and explore all the things that I have wrestled with, failed at, and discovered. So, I'll just share what's up today...

This morning, out on the couch on the back porch, I was just bouncing all the things in my head that have been going on in my life, trying to focus on what God might be saying to me, and the one thought that pierced through the murkiness was "grace". I am not sure it was God telling me to stop and be grateful for His grace, or if it was me just thinking about how many times I have failed, or just done what I wanted without seeking Him, and yet He was still there with me... still willing to listen to my heart, willing to love me. A cool breeze of grace poured over me, and I was reminded of the very basic of basics: God loves me.

Can you say it with me? Out loud? Ready? One, two, three: "God loves me."

The absolute immensity of that truth is perhaps the most overlooked, underestimated truth in the universe. God - all powerful, all knowing, all seeing, ever present, perfect God...loves little, bitty, frail, foolish, stubborn, sinful me (...and you.) From a scientific approach - it's ridiculous. God doesn't need anything and we can only give Him that which He created to begin with. Yet, He wants a relationship with us. Not like a pet, spontaneously purchased at the side of the road on the way home from the grocery store, at once enjoyed and entertaining, and later, after a time, just an annoyance that requires a minimum amount of attention. But rather, like a child, born of a mother once thought barren, cherished through every smile, every cry, every first step, first tooth, first word, first grade, first love... Stop, as I did this morning, and really think about that. And so, the word "Grace" echoed deep in my heart, reverberating through my entire soul. And even that thought, that realization of His love, is a gift of grace.

Does God, my Father, have a blind eye toward my sin. my failures, my outright disobedience? Or is every single "bad" thing that happens a punishment, doled out tit for tat by a score keeper who makes absolutely sure we are aware of our every mistake. The verses that shout out to me this morning are in Ephesians chapter 2... a stunning chapter worth the read. Worth memorizing, for that matter. The whole chapter is a heart's cry of a Father who longs to have His children understand the depth of His love. Following are the first 9 verses:

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

There are books written about the depths of this passage. I encourage you to memorize it... and I pledge to do so as well. Even as I cut and pasted it into this post, as I read it, I was stirred with gratitude of a Holy God who loves me that much. I was dead in my sin, and He intervened into my life and rescued me. He made me alive, fully knowing the depth of my failures of the past, and my rebellion in the future. Not with a blind eye, my friends, but with a heart big enough to love me through my sin, my rebellion, my failures.. With compassion of a Perfect Father, He interacts with me in my life, day by day, moment by moment, drawing me into a deeper love relationship. He encourages me to be the man He created me to be. He forgives me when I fall, which is far too often. He answers my prayers perfectly. He leads me through difficulties, and even uses those times in my life to grow me, draw me, shape me, love me.

The song says, "Grace flows down and covers me." It is amazing. I am simply amazed. My hope for you is that you are amazed too. The God of the universe is with You, longing to amaze you. He knows everything about you, and yet, He longs to "seat you in the heavenly realms with Christ" and give you the life you have always wanted. Not necessarily a life of success in the world's eyes - but an abundant, meaningful life. A life of joy unspeakable, and purpose. A life not measured by what you have done and will do, but a life set free of the burdens of failures and the entanglement of sin. A life overwhelmed by Grace flowing down. That is real. That is real life.

Seek Him, and He will be right there. Father loves you, not based on your value in your own eyes, but simply because He does.

Everything

"May every word that I speak, every thought that I think, and every thing that I do, bring glory to You."
Somewhere in the conversation a few mornings ago, I said this to God. And, I am actually sure that I meant it. And even more incredible than that, for the very first time, I really believed it was possible. What I mean, is that it is really possible for this finite, foolish, messed-up dude to be able to bring glory to God all day long. Every word, every thought, and every thing...
At first glance, it sounds like one of those prayers you get on a bookmark... great sentiment. (For all I know, there is a bookmark out there with this prayer... as posted earlier, I am not sure that I ever had an original thought :-) But you know what I mean... it sounds really pie-in-the-sky; unreachable, yet really fun to "wish" for. The funny thing is, though, I really did believe it. And I still do.
Now you are thinking there must have been something else in my coffee besides caffeine. I swear, I don't do drugs...any more :-). I am serious: I really can bring glory to God all day long - every word, every thought, every thing. Romans 8:28 says: " For we know all things work together for good, for those who love God, for those who are called, according to His purpose." God did say all things. I used to repeat this verse over and over and over, as I trudged through th emuck of my life... kind of a montra to take away the pain of the mystery of why so many things in my life are screwed up. But something new has entered into my mind. And I think I like it: I potentially can become the man that God has created me to be! Yes!! (spoken fiercely, fist clutched, elbow drawn quickly back to my waste...)
Follow me here: God says that even as messed up as I am, He is going to conform me into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). Well, Jesus brought glory to God all day long... right? True, Jesus is God, but He was also 100% man as He lived for us on earth. Scriptures says He came down here to be with us so He really knows how it feels to be human. If He had some special "something" that in truth made Him not really man, something that we could not attain, then we would be in trouble. I believe the truth is that we really can give glory to God all day long, every day. Granted, it is a tall order, and the probability is remote, but it is still something to aspire to. Ever Peter reminded us that God said, "Be holy as I am holy." While I am sure the pessimistic phrase, "Nobody's perfect." is a true statement as it applies to all humans other than Jesus, I really do not think that is what bringing glory to God means. Not that we are perfect, but that we are intimate with God. Really, really intimate.
So, what I am saying is that if we could just get up in the morning, and start thinking for the glory of God - pure thoughts, thoughts of how we can participate in what God is doing in our lives that day, and speak truth and grace into the lives of those we encounter that day, and obey God as He nudges us along... I really think that is what giving Him glory looks like. Not me, walking around holding up one hand with two fingers up and two fingers gently folded, like the statues I saw growing up in the Catholic church... but me loving others... putting them first... listening with empathy and compassion...remembering that everyone I encounter is a miracle, and they are loved by God. I think that's what "perfection" looks like. It's real life. Filled with Joy, Hope, and Grace. And that's what I hope for today.. for you... for me.
Have a great day!