Embarrassing Grace

S

(Romans 1:6,7) ... You are the called of Jesus Christ ... beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

O

Although he'd not yet met these Roman men, women, or children, Paul clearly understood how God viewed them: Through Jesus, God had called (invited, welcomed, and appointed) them to be His own family. They were powerfully yet tenderly loved as only their creator could demonstrate. Despite their histories of shameful failures and varying degrees of moral maturity (and immaturity, as Paul eventually discovered once he got to know them), the Holy Spirit, nonetheless, called them saints--people perfectly clean, totally accepted, and completely dedicated to God.

A (Personal)

I'm overwhelmed by the effectiveness of Jesus' cross--that it could so alter God's view of me, too, that I, like these ancient Romans, could be not only accepted and but invited by God, but also called and embraced as His highly favored child. By discovering His love, I learn that I can safely trust Him. That trust turns into a rich and responsive love for Him. The more I love Him, and trust His love for me, the more naturally I delight in obeying Him, which leads to ever-expanding, inexhaustible discoveries of His love.

A (Psychological)

Our ability to love people, though unspeakably meager in contrast to God's ability, is still our most powerful aid for helping others. It's hard work. Dr. Huffine created Allies in Change, a program for working with society's most unlovable people--batterers of women, children (and men). This program is in contrast to shame-based models that merely use a larger hammer of power and abuse to effect behavioral changes. Allies in Change treats its clients with respect, while still holding them both responsible and accountable for their behaviors. It helps them develop moral honesty, as well as cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills for stopping their abusive or violent behaviors. Over a century ago, theologian Alexander Maclaren was particularly insightful when he commented on this verse: "You cannot argue a man into loving God, any more than you can hammer a rosebud open... So a God who has only claims upon us will never be a God to whom we yield ourselves. A God who has love for us will be a God to whom it is blessed that we should be consecrated, and so saints."

P

Lord, Your love for me is almost embarrassing--I have hope when others have none. I have joy in spite of my circumstances because I'm know that Your soon-to-be-revealed good purposes are at work for me even in tough circumstances. I have Your own peace available to me anytime simply by coming into Your presence to bask in Your love. Kings and emperors would have been jealous of all You do for me. I am so deeply grateful for You!