Tuesday, March 25—Day 21

God’s Great Grace Through Jesus
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
John 1: 16-17, Ephesians 2: 4-10, John 8: 11

God’s Law or God’s Grace?
God’s law — his unchanging absolutes, and God’s grace — his unconditional love, sometimes seem to be polarized values, opposing forces at odds with each other. To which pole are we to lean? Which truth do we emphasize?

Better than any person in history, Jesus incarnated both of these values. He never wavered from God’s law, yet he was consistently merciful to sinners. He raised the bar concerning Ten Commandment law (that mostly addressed human behavior) insisting that even our thoughts and attitudes will be judged. Yet, in dealing with flawed individuals, time and again, Jesus extended love, grace, patience, gentleness, forgiveness and acceptance. These “sinners” loved him, and were continuously the special recipients of his kindness.

To the rich, young ruler who asked about eternal life, he said matter of factly: “Keep the commandments…” and then he went on to list them. “All these I have kept from my youth,” the young man replied. “What do I still lack?” Jesus looked at this young man, and loved him the Bible says (Mark 10:21). “One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go and sell all that you have, give to the poor, and then come and follow me.” The young man went away very sad, unable to give up what was holding him back. Jesus held the standard high while he loved the young man! I can imagine that in Jesus’ face, even in the tone of his voice, that love came shining through. I doubt this young man would ever accuse Jesus of being harsh or judgmental. He didn’t go away angry. He went away sad, knowing Jesus was right, knowing Jesus cared about him, but that the onus was on himself and he wasn’t ready to follow.

This uncanny gift, this divine ability to represent both the standard of God’s LAW and the kindness of His GRACE, is a theme throughout Jesus’ life.

He warned his disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” What is this leaven? Jesus is commenting about Israel’s religious and civil leaders who were setting a poor example. The leaven of the Pharisees was harsh legalism. They erred by using the law, which God meant to be a guide and a teacher, as a hammer to wound and punish. The leaven of Herod was moral relativism. Herod erred by marrying his brother Philip’s wife, thus ignoring the seventh commandment and modeling to the nation that anything goes. Jesus warned against both errors, insinuating that both law and grace are an inherent to God’s purposes.

Jesus stood up for the woman caught in adultery, opposing her accusers, and challenging them about their own sinfulness (John 8). When they had all left in embarrassment, he turned to the woman saying, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” In one kind sentence, he forgave her (“neither do I condemn you”) and upheld God’s law (“go and sin no more”).

He did the same while conversing with a woman from Samaria beside a well (John 4). He told her about a new kind of “living” water. “Give me this water,” she pleaded. “Go, call your husband and come back,” Jesus replied. “I have no husband,” she said. “You are right when you say you have no husband,“ Jesus countered. “The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

Jesus’ gentle clarity with this Samaritan woman is profound! In the first place, He was going against convention to dialogue with her — a female from an outcast tribe! That she was promiscuous, sharing her bed with man number six, tipped stigma off the scale. Yet here Jesus was, in full public view, chatting with her. The effect was profound. The disciples were scandalized, and the woman was transformed. She went back to her village and rallied the entire town to come and meet Jesus. She saw in Jesus — in his words, in his eyes, and even in the tone of his voice — that God cared about her soul.

One of the most telling attributes of Christ’s character is that he is able, at the same time, to uphold both God’s standard and his unwavering grace. He did this one person at a time. It really doesn’t work any other way.

An entire generation is looking for a Jesus who will do this! Being “lost” is about both Law and Grace. People need God’s standard, upheld without wavering. They also need to clearly see his kindness. The two values are NOT polar opposites! They co-exist in the person of Jesus Christ. To set them apart misrepresents God in the most fundamental way.

As the Psalmist says, “Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (Psalm 85:10). This miracle happens only in Jesus Christ. It happens only in those who walk with Him, reflecting His character. As his witnesses, as his representatives, we are called to reflect Jesus in this way. Being “Christ-like” is living this example before lost people! When we do this ambassadorial work, the world can be transformed!
Douglas Gehman, President, Globe International

Prayer
Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;?
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,?
Call for songs of loudest praise?
Teach me some melodious sonnet,?
Sung by flaming tongues above.?
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,?
Mount of God's unchanging love.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!?
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,?
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.?
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,?
Prone to leave the God I love;?
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,?
Seal it for Thy courts above. Amen.
(Robert Robinson, 1757)