Wide World of Mike

This morning I flipped through my journal and read some entries I wrote when I was in the Dominican Republic last summer.  I love looking at past entries periodically because it gives me a pretty clear picture of where I have come from in my walk with Christ.  It’s not all peaches and cream, but it allows me to see the seasons God has brought me through.

When I looked through my journal today I noticed a few words that just jumped out at me.

“LET GRACE BE GRACE”

These words struck me today because that is exactly how God intended Grace to work.  There is nothing you or I can do to deserve God’s Grace.  This concept is so simple yet so profound.  A perfect example of this concept is found in John 8, when Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders with the woman caught in the act of adultery.

When the religious leaders bring the woman to Jesus they are trying to trap him into contradicting his testimony or not obeying the law.  Jesus starts writing on the ground and then tells the men, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.”  At this the men begin to leave.

After all the men had gone this is Jesus’ response to the woman.  “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” The woman answers no.  And this is where we see the beauty of Grace that God bestows on us.

“Then neither do I condemn you.  Go now and leave your life of sin”

Brad Bell taught on this passage a couple weeks ago at The Well Community Church and made me think about that last line Jesus said to the woman.  Brad’s response was confusion because God gave this woman Grace and it was never recorded in scripture that she asked for it.  There lies the wonder and beauty of Grace.

LET GRACE BE GRACE