http://thecity.org/message/better_together
As is my current routine, I have begun the morning listening to the above message. I like to start my day listening to truth and focussing my mind on God. It would be so easy just to turn the television on and get lost in the plethora of daytime shows but I have intentionally avoided this.
This message talks about the fact Jesus was fully grace and fully truth. 100 per cent truth and 100 per cent grace. It speaks of our struggle with this – that we tend to favour one over the other.
One quote that stuck with me today and got me thinking:
Everybody needs a ‘what it could be’ kind of friend in their life.
What does that mean exactly? We are often good at listening and supporting, we are probably better at offering advice and explaining exactly where they have gone wrong. We may even get to a point of frustration when they keep doing things that are detrimental to them and their life.
We look at the ‘truth’ that we know about them and we want to use it to judge them and call them out on it and say ‘stop!’
Many of us will not want to admit to this but if you really think about it , if you are really honest with yourself – you do this. We struggle to be gracious to people when we know a lot of the truth about them and their life. it makes it difficult for us.
Yet…
He sees and knows the truth about you fully, yet he fully extends grace. What you have done, what you are doing and what you are going to do.
We have access to one hundred per cent grace in spite of the the truth about us. How often do we offer the same to those around us?
- How often have we focussed on the journey that someone has made instead of the mistake?
- How often have we given someone hope – ‘It doesn’t have to be what it is’ instead of ‘It is what it is’
- How often have we in spite of knowing the truth – offered grace
My guess is not too often, my guess is like me you have read those questions and they have made you think, maybe they have convicted you.
So what now?
As you have read this post has a name come to mind? Has a recent encounter come to mind?
To my friends and those who read this:
I want to say, I am sorry for the times I have said “It is what is.’ when I should have said ‘It doesn’t have to be what it is.’
I am sorry for the times that I have let the truths I have known about you cloud my ability to show you grace.
I want you to know that just like me you are not who you should be but you are not who you used to be.
I want to be a ‘what it could be.’ friend
I want to socially and relationally function full of grace and truth.
And… when I get it wrong, I hope there will be grace there for me.
Great post. That is really powerful – we could all do with extending more grace to those around us. Food for thought – again! Thanks 🙂
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Yes we all need a reminder about grace – we love the theory of it but often struggle with the practice!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I liked your blog about truth and grace. So true. May He bless your day.
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Thank you for commenting and the encouragement 🙂
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I love it! I especially liked when you gave me an answer for my daughter’s constant favorite phrase: “It is what it is.” Aaaaah!! I’ve never liked that and now I know why! It doesn’t HAVE to be that way. I don’t like “settling” for something that could be so much better so I’m always fine-tuning myself for God’s approval of “Well done my great faithful servant.”
I tried to hook on before but my computer is acting strangely. So glad I pursued your blog and now you have gained another follower. I’ll look forward to your insights, Blessings,
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Thank Ellie,
So glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for following!
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Reblogged this on Faith.
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