Good morning!
I was reading an article and a guy was quoted as saying, when asked why he was doing something, that he was “paying off his debt of grace” – at first when I read this expression it was like a tuning fork going off within me – it resonated with me as a thought worth exploring within scripture…the guy was referring to the gift of grace we have received through Jesus Christ, being justified and made righteous by the blood of our Savior.
Then I sat on this for a few days. I am no longer resonating with it as much as I did when I wrote this. A lot has changed since I first read the phrase on that Monday.
Maybe that changed my perspective. This is because the expression suggests somehow we could pay the debt Christ paid with His life, that we somehow earn our way to an eternal relationship with God.
Of course, it is true that faith without works is dead faith. But those works are fruits of the love we have for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Works born of the heart overflowing with the joy we receive as we accept the gift of mercy and grace.
This leads me to where this week a few years ago became surreal for me.
Tuesday of that week came.
An email from a cousin. My aunt, Sister Rosemary, had suddenly passed away earlier that day. Rosemary was my Mom’s sister, the 7th of the 11 siblings to pass away. She, as many of my Mom’s siblings, was special to me. I wear a cross daily, a gift three years ago from Rosemary because as she shared with me that she recognized Jesus Christ working in my life. I wear it daily, as a reminder two things – that my life is surrendered to Jesus Christ – my rebellion is over – and – that Jesus Christ did the work…I pray these words in some form back to Jesus every morning. In gratitude. Sister Rosemary gave her life to Christ when she entered the Convent. She understood the surrender to Christ part – and I am sure she understood there is no human effort that could ever pay off “our debt of grace”. Rosemary was a fighter. She survived (I am sure she would not have used the words “I won”) cancer twice. But she surely would have given God all the credit – for both times it looked like there was no hope. I would not be wearing this cross daily if God had not brought her though. There was no pride here, no I worked hard so God healed me with Rosemary. There was just this quiet and beautiful gratitude offered to God for His work in her life, including the work of providing the means (in and through Jesus Christ) of how we come back into right relationships with Him –God’s gift of mercy and grace.
As I wrote this originally, it was lent, leading up to Easter. I found this rambling set of thoughts most appropriate. Because any celebration of lent ultimately leads to the Cross and then the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – proof of God’s mercy and grace.
Tuesday of that week was a heavy day.
Later that day, a friend Andy came by. Andy and I had a friend who we served with on the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) leadership team. I knew Tom for the last five years, Andy longer. Tom was an elder in his church. His small BSF groups always had some of the highest attendance. He lived his faith in Jesus Christ daily. Tom knew deeply of God’s mercy and grace. Tuesday he dropped dead of a heart attack.
It did not end there. Paul, another friend, lost an aunt on that Tuesday. And another friend, Katie, lost a grandmother on that Tuesday. I not sure of where the aunt or grandmother stood with Christ. I pray they knew Him well.
Tuesday of that week was a good day.
A day for joy in this way. Rosemary, I am pretty certain, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Tom Chamberlain came face to face with Christ as well. A good day. Joy in the sorrow.
Some passages on God’s mercy and grace for you to reflect on if you so choose. After a week like that one, after a day like Tuesday several years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to remember this gift through these verses:
I am sure I am missing some scripture that is worthwhile to ponder but if this stirs you in some way, I recommend you spend some time in God’s Word, letting Him speak to you.
All of this should remind us - there is no debt to pay off for the mercy and grace we have received, when Jesus called us to himself. Jesus paid in full, did all the work... Our response should be to let the Holy Spirit generate fruit of the love demonstrated to each us, love immense beyond our comprehension.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into this weekend is all over the place – that each of us knows the truth of God that He has numbered our days and wisely use the days we are given to glorify God in all we do – that we share the seeds of the Gospel so God can bring others His mercy and grace through you, Jesus Christ – and finally, in our losses of family or friends who we know are in Christ, that in addition to the mourning we experience, we find the joy that comes with knowing they are HOME... Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
I was reading an article and a guy was quoted as saying, when asked why he was doing something, that he was “paying off his debt of grace” – at first when I read this expression it was like a tuning fork going off within me – it resonated with me as a thought worth exploring within scripture…the guy was referring to the gift of grace we have received through Jesus Christ, being justified and made righteous by the blood of our Savior.
Then I sat on this for a few days. I am no longer resonating with it as much as I did when I wrote this. A lot has changed since I first read the phrase on that Monday.
Maybe that changed my perspective. This is because the expression suggests somehow we could pay the debt Christ paid with His life, that we somehow earn our way to an eternal relationship with God.
Of course, it is true that faith without works is dead faith. But those works are fruits of the love we have for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Works born of the heart overflowing with the joy we receive as we accept the gift of mercy and grace.
This leads me to where this week a few years ago became surreal for me.
Tuesday of that week came.
An email from a cousin. My aunt, Sister Rosemary, had suddenly passed away earlier that day. Rosemary was my Mom’s sister, the 7th of the 11 siblings to pass away. She, as many of my Mom’s siblings, was special to me. I wear a cross daily, a gift three years ago from Rosemary because as she shared with me that she recognized Jesus Christ working in my life. I wear it daily, as a reminder two things – that my life is surrendered to Jesus Christ – my rebellion is over – and – that Jesus Christ did the work…I pray these words in some form back to Jesus every morning. In gratitude. Sister Rosemary gave her life to Christ when she entered the Convent. She understood the surrender to Christ part – and I am sure she understood there is no human effort that could ever pay off “our debt of grace”. Rosemary was a fighter. She survived (I am sure she would not have used the words “I won”) cancer twice. But she surely would have given God all the credit – for both times it looked like there was no hope. I would not be wearing this cross daily if God had not brought her though. There was no pride here, no I worked hard so God healed me with Rosemary. There was just this quiet and beautiful gratitude offered to God for His work in her life, including the work of providing the means (in and through Jesus Christ) of how we come back into right relationships with Him –God’s gift of mercy and grace.
As I wrote this originally, it was lent, leading up to Easter. I found this rambling set of thoughts most appropriate. Because any celebration of lent ultimately leads to the Cross and then the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – proof of God’s mercy and grace.
Tuesday of that week was a heavy day.
Later that day, a friend Andy came by. Andy and I had a friend who we served with on the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) leadership team. I knew Tom for the last five years, Andy longer. Tom was an elder in his church. His small BSF groups always had some of the highest attendance. He lived his faith in Jesus Christ daily. Tom knew deeply of God’s mercy and grace. Tuesday he dropped dead of a heart attack.
It did not end there. Paul, another friend, lost an aunt on that Tuesday. And another friend, Katie, lost a grandmother on that Tuesday. I not sure of where the aunt or grandmother stood with Christ. I pray they knew Him well.
Tuesday of that week was a good day.
A day for joy in this way. Rosemary, I am pretty certain, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Tom Chamberlain came face to face with Christ as well. A good day. Joy in the sorrow.
Some passages on God’s mercy and grace for you to reflect on if you so choose. After a week like that one, after a day like Tuesday several years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to remember this gift through these verses:
- John 1:16-17
- Romans 3:23-25
- Romans 5:1-3
- 1 Corinthians 1:3-5
- Ephesians 1:3-11
- Ephesians 2:1-10
- Ephesians 4:1-7
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- 2 Timothy 1:8-10
- Hebrews 2:9-10
I am sure I am missing some scripture that is worthwhile to ponder but if this stirs you in some way, I recommend you spend some time in God’s Word, letting Him speak to you.
All of this should remind us - there is no debt to pay off for the mercy and grace we have received, when Jesus called us to himself. Jesus paid in full, did all the work... Our response should be to let the Holy Spirit generate fruit of the love demonstrated to each us, love immense beyond our comprehension.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into this weekend is all over the place – that each of us knows the truth of God that He has numbered our days and wisely use the days we are given to glorify God in all we do – that we share the seeds of the Gospel so God can bring others His mercy and grace through you, Jesus Christ – and finally, in our losses of family or friends who we know are in Christ, that in addition to the mourning we experience, we find the joy that comes with knowing they are HOME... Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
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