True grace is shocking and scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on reaching out to sinners with mercy and hope. It forgives the unfaithful spouse, the racist, the child abuser. It loves today’s AIDS patient as much as the tax collector of Jesus’ day. Only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world that understands cruelty and unforgiveness but knows nothing about mercy.
Jenkins Lloyd Jones said, “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are most often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey . . . . delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
Since Eve ate the apple first does that mean from now on she’s in charge of cooking?
Do your material possessions own you? Spend your time caring for them? Have you made idols of your earthly treasures? Are you so attached to your belongings (your “stuff”) that you will not accept the offer of true riches – your treasure is where your heart is – heavenly wealth?
Peace that is rooted in good situations or relationships is not really peace at all. It is a brittle kind of harmony between yourself and the world. It crumbles easily when situations or relationships turn bad.
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