Extending Grace

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.
1 Corinthians 15:10

As Jim looked across his desk at Levi, he silently asked God for the wisdom to handle this situation. He’d received several calls from customers that recent orders had been missing multiple items.
Myron from Harvest Equipment had called a few minutes earlier to let Jim know that five different parts had been missing from his order. Jim humbly responded, “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Myron. Tell me what parts were missing, and I’ll ship them to you overnight, no freight.”
Jim had discovered that Levi had been sent home two days ago, midshift, for drinking on the job. Seventeen orders he had sent out had been shipped incomplete. Jim was deciding what to do. He had every right to fire Levi on the spot. But he’d been twenty-one once and remembered an opportunity he’d been given to make good on a poor choice. He talked to Levi about good character and how hard it is to restore once people witness one too many of our poor choices. Jim decided to give Levi another chance and extended God’s grace to someone in desperate need of it.

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Jim was not hasty in dealing with Levi. He had never forgotten how God had extended His precious grace at a crucial time of rebellion in his own life. Without that grace, Jim might never have recognized how dangerous the road was he had started down.
Paul never forgot God’s grace either. He spoke openly and often about his past in a plea for people to stop judging harshly. His instruction to the church at Corinth was to reveal to them how God’s grace not only saves, but also how it can bring about tremendous change in a person’s heart. We have all been necessary recipients of that grace. How can we, in light of that knowledge, refuse to extend it to those who are perishing?

Prayer

“God of mercy, we ask Your forgiveness for the times we have been stubborn and possessive with something so powerful as Your grace. Teach us to be humble; show us how to walk in grace so that we might extend it to others. Amen.”

No Grading Curve

But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:31, 32

She stared at the red ink at the top of the paper and silently began to formulate an argument for her professor. She waited until the last student was gone and then walked to Mr. Ambrose’s desk.
“Samantha?” he asked, seeing her agitation.
“How could you do this to me?” she all but screamed. “This paper deserved a better grade!”
Calmly, and with appreciation for the moment, he responded, “In looking at the basic thought behind your analysis, I found your work absent of genuine depth. As I read, I felt you had no personal connection with the facts you presented. Your words were mechanical, devoid of emotion. I know you are capable of better work, Samantha. I do not grade on a curve, as I believe it sends the wrong message. Students cannot be rightly motivated if they know they can get by simply because of a curve that allows sub-par effort. You received a grade commensurate to the level at which you performed, a level well below what you are capable of.
Knowing the truth of his statement, she was convicted of the casual effort she had dedicated to her work.

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Being left to grade ourselves is a dangerous assignment. Most of us do not possess the ability to assess ourselves objectively; we tend to think highly of our efforts and expect results accordingly.
As in the grading curve mentioned in today’s story, we can be deceived into believing we can bypass Jesus’ sacrifice. Many are under the impression that if they live a good life, they will somehow be deserving of heaven. That just isn’t true. If it were so, Christ died for no good reason, and God is a liar. It requires our receiving and acknowledging the blood sacrifice of Calvary. Only by placing Jesus on the throne of our lives are we rightly motivated. We cannot enter heaven by means of a grading curve.

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, reign in my life and lead me into all truth. I put my trust in You, not in the world’s flexible gospel. Amen.”

Yours Free—At a Price …

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ … and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31

Art was skeptical. He’d seen mail order offers before: “This is your big chance, Art Minot!” “You could win millions!” Then, in smaller print, “Or … ” and they listed several “alternate” prizes ranging from plasma TVs to a keychain. He’d always won the keychain.
But this offer was different. This was an offer for free dental care. The local dentists were dedicating one day to give back to the community by providing free dental work, regardless of economic standing. All you had to do was contact the offices between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the prearranged date and schedule an appointment.
So on that day, Art began calling at 10:00 a.m. promptly, finally getting through around 10:40 a.m. Two weeks later, Art underwent a double tooth extraction he’d been in desperate need of.
He later learned that these two dentists had performed over ten thousand dollars worth of free work for the community that day. The dental work had been free. All Art had to do was hit re-dial until he got through to the receptionist—a small price for such a large reward.

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Not all offers or promises are genuine and valid. Nor is everything we read in print true. Many times, unsuspecting participants lose their life savings in elaborate schemes. People believe what they read simply because it was printed on decorative paper.
Most fraudulent offers rely on a desperate desire to find relief from a difficult life. The sad truth is that they offer big promises with little or no reward. There is, however, one promise we can count on no matter what it’s written on. It is free to those who would receive it.
John was an eyewitness to the price that was paid to give us life in His name. Our cost is faith, faith that what we read in Scripture is true. This is the sweepstakes we were born to win. The price was great; our free reward is huge! Will you believe, let Jesus pay the price, and enjoy the reward?

Prayer

“Thank you for Your written Word, Lord. Send Your Holy Spirit to testify to the truth in Scripture. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Made for Laughter

A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Proverbs 17:22

Nancy and Craig constantly looked for little ways to make each other laugh and enrich their marriage. This particular morning found Nancy headed out the door for the day as Craig was finishing breakfast. They never parted company without a what-if kiss: What if something terrible happens and we do not see each other again? So, getting up from the table, Craig joined his beloved at their favorite spot: the doorway between the dining room and kitchen. Nancy stood on the step above the threshold, Craig on the kitchen floor, several inches below her. This offset their height difference, making for the perfect fit.
As they embraced and kissed, a mischievous thought came unbidden to Craig. Not given time to brush his teeth prior to Nancy’s heading out the door, he realized, with increasing amusement, here was a moment given by God! Leaning back while still holding her around the waist, he looked into Nancy’s eyes and said, “I guess this makes me a cereal kisser!” Spontaneous laughter with a twinkle in their eyes gave testimony to the love they shared. These precious moments given of God deepened their relationship with each other and God.

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We were created with an expressive nature, and it testifies to what’s going on in our heart.
Many of us suffer from heavily burdened hearts, rarely displaying any sign of joy or happiness. God Himself desires to bring complete joy to our lives that we might recognize His nature and learn to emulate it.
It is my belief that we bring a smile to our Creator’s face when we laugh with abandon. One of my favorite paintings is of a head-thrown-back, all-teeth-showing, belly-laughing Jesus.
We weren’t created to walk around with a downcast countenance, showing everyone how miserable we are. We will find what we look for; joy is optional. Yes, there will be sorrow, but if we look for a light heart, we just might find one filled with laughter.

Prayer

“Help us look to create those seemingly insignificant moments in life, Lord. Teach us to laugh as You intended, to love each other passionately with fervor and great joy! In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

In the Fury of the Storm

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.
Psalm 55:8

Clarence watched in horror as the funnel cloud dropped from the sky. He turned and shouted to his wife, “Michelle, grab Christy and Tim and head for the basement. Now!” He took one more look before turning to join his family.
The twister was bouncing from point to point as if it were choosing specific geographical locations. Every time it touched down, debris was lifted skyward. The closer it came, the darker the funnel got. Clarence stood, paralyzed by the awesome display of destruction.
“Clarence? What are you doing?” came Michelle’s anxious cry.
Snapped to his senses, Clarence descended through the basement door, pulling it closed as the updraft threatened to rip it from his grasp. Descending the stairs two at time, he forced a measure of calm to his voice and said, “Over to the corner. Take this blanket and cover up under the workbench.” As they huddled beneath the meager protection, Clarence began reciting the Twenty-third Psalm. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me … ” As the family joined him, the storm raged above. They could feel the house shake and hear windows breaking. Through it all, they would remember the peace that surrounded them in the fury of the storm.

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God’s promise to us is a place of shelter away from the storms of life. He does not promise we won’t experience trouble, only that in the midst of the storms we can find peace and comfort beyond what the world has to offer.
Our response in times of crisis determines whether we will continue to be tormented or receive strength from above. Just as Clarence was mesmerized by the power of the tornado, we too can be held in a dangerous place longer than we intend. And like Michelle’s cry, David urges us to take shelter from the storm. He’s telling us to hurry and not delay in fleeing from our pursuers.

Prayer

“Storms come upon me so quickly, Lord. Help me see the clouds before the tempest is upon me. Rescue me from my enemies, for I am in need of Your strength. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

We Can Expect a Complete Recovery

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Psalm 57:1

A sickening snap could be heard above the noise in the crowded gymnasium. Amy grabbed her leg, severe pain evident on her face. The conspicuous bulge below her right knee gave mute testimony that the leg was badly broken. While teammates and coach watched from a few feet away, team trainers tended to the injured girl. Mom and Dad had been courtside and now hurried to Amy’s side. EMTs took her vitals, stabilized the leg in a temporary air splint, and loaded Amy into a waiting ambulance to the crowd’s empathetic applause.
Amy was transported to the local hospital where surgery was required to mend the break. After removing tiny bone splinters, they reset the break by realigning the jagged edges and placing surgical screws through the bone. They finished by placing the leg in a cast. There had been no complications; the break would heal just fine. Amy would be on crutches for eight weeks and then placed in a walking cast. They could expect a complete recovery.

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We would never leave a broken leg unattended. Yet there are those who, for one reason or another, fail or refuse to admit to their broken spirit. It is God’s desire that we bring Him our brokenness.
When spiritual breakage occurs, it leaves jagged edges that rub together, causing scar tissue to form. Left unattended, our spirits cannot heal correctly. We live in turmoil, never finding the joy or peace promised us and possibly never realizing our full spiritual potential.
We live from our hearts; they must be safeguarded! When David was hurting, he took refuge in the shadow of God’s wing, allowing the threat to pass.
In the same way Amy’s broken bone was realigned, our broken spirit must also be brought into a position that will promote healing. We must seek refuge in Jesus Christ. The wound must be stabilized and given time to heal so it can bear weight again. Jesus says if we come to Him, we can expect a complete recovery.

Prayer

“I don’t admit to this kind of pain easily, Lord. I don’t want people to know I am wounded. Help me put aside my foolish pride and begin the healing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Stick Close Now

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

Mason and his men scanned the jungle with practiced eyes. His platoon had come under heavy fire west of Dalat, South Vietnam. They were just twenty clicks north of Ho Chi Minh City. Everyone’s safety depended on trusting your life to the man on either side of you. Looking at Sgt. Bowman, Mason gave him a one arm up, hand in front of the face, two fingers pointing to his eyes, then extending them toward the jungle in a flat, arching motion, ending with a closed fist. They would hold here until the scout returned. Bowman moved closer to Mason. “Whaddya think, L.T.? Seems too quiet.” Bowman barely heard the lieutenant’s reply. “We hold tight for now. Majors’ll be back soon. Stick close now. I want everybody close enough for visuals. No matter what you see or hear—nobody moves until I give the order. Pass it on.”
Majors returned two hours later. The VC had pulled out. There’d been seven of them, and he’d found indentations from the bipods of two fifty-caliber machine guns. Mason signaled the men to gather. “Okay, small fires for coffee and beans. Put ’em out and get some rest. Mitchell and Byrnes, you have first watch.”

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There is a bond of trust in the military that transcends almost all others. To share your life with family brings closeness; to have shared the fight for life and for the freedom of others brings inseparable devotion. As close as those bonds are, there is one closer: an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. And the reason it is the closest bond of all is due to His unyielding faithfulness to us. Our undying love will, at times, fail us and others. We are well-meaning people, yet fallible. Jesus, however, will never fail us. His love is unconditional; His mercy freely given; His grace goes as deep as necessary. He is constantly seeking to bring us under His protection. And in Him, we truly find a friend Who does stick closer than a brother.

Prayer

“I am weak, Lord Jesus. And so thankful that You are not. Draw me into the deepest part of Your love and protection. Stick close to me now, Lord. Amen.”