But what is grace?
Grace is one of the most amazing 'things' that I have tried to get my head around in my Christian journey.
Rejection, judgement and attack
There have been times in my life where rejection, judgement or attack have been brought against me. Instantly I have jumped to words like 'unjust', 'unfair', and 'unwarranted'. All that is within me wants to fight my case to the finish.
When these times occur, life can become confusing. It can be a very dark time and perhaps difficult to see ourselves in the same way we did before the event occurred. We find it hard to see how God could allow this to happen. We discover it difficult to pray and bring it to God. It encapsulates and consumes every moment of thought in our minds. We find ourselves practising conversations to bring out the truth or force reconciliation. It feels like we're just banging our head against a wall. Perhaps we are the type that simply runs away.
Some may believe giving chance after chance is ridiculous. But choosing unforgiveness can be a dangerous path. It makes us bitter, resentful or even sick. Giving grace to someone is the opposite of being weak. It is transforming, it is love and it is compassion. A decision of giving grace and favour when someone does not deserve it? That is supernatural power.
We love to say all these Christian messages about grace, because it sounds ideal. It sounds like the best way to be. If Jesus is the example, then that's for me! But when it comes to the crunch of extending grace to someone that doesn't deserve it – how do you go?
Jesus is grace
Grace is a gift. And that gift is Jesus. Without Him, there is no salvation, we do not have grace extended to us without Him. There is no other true definition of Grace.
The ultimate level of grace has been gifted to human-kind. In approximately AD 56-57, the apostle Paul explains in Romans 5 verses 6-8, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous personâ€"though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to dieâ€" but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
I have to read these verses twice at times. Christ died for the ungodly - those who don't even know Him. Christ died for sinners - all of us. Even while we were unaware of sin, or even if we were.
Jesus knows and understands rejection. Jesus exemplified rejection. Can any attack or rejection we face be anywhere near the extent of what Jesus experienced?
These dark times fill patches of life. We may experience it from anywhere in our lives; work, church, neighbours or family. We may experience it from a community or society at large because of skin colour, age, religion, gender or sexual orientation. All forms of this cause pain and add obstructions on our path of life.
Yet, Jesus' experience of accusation, rejection and crucifixion on the wooden cross did not end the story. God had the final word: a word of life, and love.
As the sun sets on our moments of rejection and darkness, we can live with the hope that the sun will rise again. Even though people and the world around us may cause us pain and trouble, God welcomes us all with open arms, embraces us in love.
Belinda Croft has been writing for Press Service International since 2010. She lives in Melbourne with her husband Russell and their two sons. Her passion for understanding the things of God in simple ways, social justice and news issues influence her writing style.
Belinda Croft's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/belinda-croft.html
Belinda Croft has been writing for Press Service International since 2010. She lives in Melbourne with her husband Russell and their two sons. Her passion for understanding the things of God in simple ways, social justice and news issues influence her writing style.
Belinda Croft's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/belinda-croft.html