Grace

"Sadly, most of the world no longer sees much of the "Good" in Good Friday. While we call it "Good", it actually commemorates one of the darkest days in history. In fact, the Bible records that when Jesus died, "darkness came over the whole land". (Luke 23:44) That’s God’s reminder to us all about what sin does in our world...it separates us from God’s light.

The irony of what happened that Friday is that God can create goodness from the darkest of circumstances.  It was wrong to put an innocent man to death. Yet, I’m so glad God let Jesus hang on that Cross because as Paul said, "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them." (2 Corinthians 5:19) God’s redemptive plan was at work that day. Jesus offered his righteousness to us in exchange for our sins. That’s why we call it, Good Friday."

Several weeks ago, in the intro to my Project 365 I stated how I'd spent the week meditating on God's grace.  It was too much to include in that post, so I promised I'd share later.  I can't think of a better time than when we are talking about the cross.  This is nothing new or profound, but it was fresh again to me a couple weeks ago and its too good not to share.  Let me tell you, meditating on God's grace for a week will get you happy!

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7,8

Here it is in The Message:

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making.

To lavish means to give in great amounts or without limit.  The illustration I saw was with a small empty cup and a large pitcher full of water.  The pastor used his son as an example.  When he is hot and thirsty and tired after playing sports and asks for a drink, the father delights in pouring out that water to his son, overflowing it all over the sides, a seemingly endless supply....more than his son is able to drink.

We are not sneaking the grace that we recieve.  We haven't just "gotten away with one".  Rather, God doles out grace, in abundance for us and delights in giving it to us.  Wow.

Sometimes we feel like we are disqualified.  That because of the choices we've made in the past we are no longer on the short list for grace.

But...

He's the God of the second chance.  The God of the third and fourth and fifth, and thirty-sixth chance.  And he delights in lavishing his grace on us.  Rest in that today, recieve it for yourself and get happy!