Throne of Grace part 5
Come boldly to the throne of grace. To find grace to help in time of need. That's what we're talking about. That's what is important. And here's the best part, "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ" (Ephesians 4:7). That's so amazing to me. People talk about univeralism and predestination and whatever else. There's grace for every one of us. And it has been given to every one of us. Let me say it like this: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And, again, I believe this is speaking of something very different than "I broke the Ten Commandments." I believe sin is unbelief. And we all unbelieved until we knew what to believe in. Until we knew that we could believe. But just stick with me. Romans 5:20 says, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." So we all sinned (universally). And where sin abounded, grace much more (or super) abounded. Grace beats sin hands down. Every time. The truth beats the lie. Every. Single. Time. And the ultimate truth of the universe is that God is love and He loves you. That's what the opposite of sin is--faith. Knowing and believing that you are immaculately loved by your heavenly Father. That's what faith is. And one of the way that He proves HIs love for us is by giving us--giving ALL of us--grace. The grace to grow, as we grow in grace. I like the defintion of mercy and grace that says, "Mercy is NOT getting what you deserve, and grace is getting what you DON'T deserve." Because that kind of answers the question of whether or not we can come to the throne of grace. We don't have to worry about whether we deserve it or not. We can just come boldly because the One who sits on the throne loves us. We can go straight to the source instead of looking for love in all the wrong places. We can find what we need by looking for it where it is. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Looking at Him face to face. Not afraid of dying if he saw that face, but knowing that that face... was his own face. When we look in the mirror we see Jesus. Because He lives in us. That's our true identity--God in the flesh, love in a body. God in OUR flesh. Love in OUR body. So we can just simply be who we are. Not who the world tells us we're "supposed" to be, but who we are in Christ. Which is who Christ is in us. Me being me and doing what I do... in love. With love. Through love. Because of love. Guys... it's all about love! Love is what makes the world go 'round. Love is what makes life worth living. Because living and loving are the same thing. You can't do one without the other and you can't have one without the other. So don't be afraid to go to the source. You ARE the source. The same light of the world that Jesus is... we are. It's the same light. The same love. It's why we can be merciful--because we have been given mercy. It's why we can be graceful--because we have been given grace. We love because He first loved us. It's simply receiving and releasing what we have been given. And just to be clear: For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. That's what we've been given. That's what we can give. Give Jesus... by giving ourselves. Love is giving everything you have and everything you are. Love is laying your life down for your friends. Love is living this life the way it was meant to be lived. A merciful life. A graceful life. A life of forgiviness. A life... of love.