Laced With Grace

The tall, thin black man approached my husband and me as we crossed the busy Chicago street.  He asked if we were from the nearby Bible school and we assured him that we were.  Studying in downtown Chicago provided many opportunities to meet unique individuals from homeless drug-addicts to young single mothers and drunk beggars.  This particular stranger began discussing a complex Scripture passage with us from the book of Daniel.

He insisted that angels were deterred by Satan’s forces, which meant that Satan was more powerful than God.  My husband looked at the man and declared, “In the end, Satan was destroyed by the blood of Jesus.”  The man, with erratic movements and rapid speaking, darted across the busy street and disappeared before our eyes.

The name of Jesus held amazing sway over that man.  One Word physically affected him:  Jesus.  Great orators understand that words contain power when wielded carefully.  However, it is rare that one simple word can change the course of a life. 

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.  3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

The Word of God brings more than knowledge or persuasion.  The Word breathes new life into this fallen world.  God’s word to humanity walked around among His listeners.  He wasn’t a static black and white text of paper, but a flesh and blood example of truth and grace. 

How has the name of Jesus changed your life?  If you attached that Word to your speech today, how might it influence your world? 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:9

I was blog surfing the other day when I ran across House Mix. It is a team blog by the management of Steven Curtis Chapman. The latest post was an update of sorts on how the family is coping following the tragic and sudden death of their little girl. The last two lines of the post really touched me. It read:

I wonder…perhaps Satan has miscalculated and messed with the wrong family?
“I think we’re gonna make it” she said. (referring to Mary Beth Chapman).

Of course, I cried after reading this. I can only imagine the pain and hurt this family is dealing with daily. Yet, I see an amazing testimony of how the Living God can walk with us in our hurts. I see hope that can only be found in the power of a personal relationship with the Savior.

All of us will have struggles, trials and hurts in this life. Right now, my family is walking through the “storm” of a very real possible job loss (my husband’s job). This really has almost become normal for us. My husband’s last job went through years of tumultuous ups and downs until the day finally came that his job there went away. Now with the real estate slump, his current company is in dire financial straits and we are not sure how much longer his employment will last.

Truthfully, I tend to get tired of it. I find that I stress over the finances. For 7 years or so, we have been in that “saving” mode because a layoff could be coming. I really want to be able to spend some. I’m stressing because I really want a Roomba – I think it will make my life easier. I want new floors. Oh and one of those flat screen TVs. And a new iPod – mine just doesn’t have enough space (the Grace To You podcasts take up a lot of room). When will my husband’s job be secure so we can just relax?

Then I think about the words of Mary Beth Chapman. In her incredible pain, she knows the family will make it. God will be with them. Satan cannot have their family. He cannot break them down or destroy them.

My fretting is so trivial. Whether job loss (or death) Satan cannot have my family. He cannot have my piece of mind. He cannot steal my security I have in Jesus. I choose not to let these silly things bother me anymore. The job is what it is and I have to trust in God that He will not lead our family astray. He will not lead us to destruction. He will not abandon us. His word promises this. And it promises the same for you.

Whatever your trials, tears, failures, hurts or trivial fretting – you can make it! Learn to simply:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 ESV

Dear Lord, I come to you and ask for forgiveness for my shallow wants and non complacent wants. Being in Your will is so much more important. Lord, I ask for your direction and guidance and give me strength to trust in you always. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Can you say you have compassion for someone or feel compassionate about a situation and not be moved to do something about it?  If you break the word down, doesn’t it mean “with passion”?  Passion, many times, is the very thing that causes people to do extraordinary acts in the name of Christ.  At some point in his life, the person was so moved with passion that he couldn’t help but be changed and do something.

I was driving down the road with girls in tow.  We hit a bump and Sarahjane’s doll went flying in the air and landed just far enough away from her that she couldn’t reach it.  Emmajoy was comfortably reclined back in her seat “reading” her children’s Bible when she saw the whole thing happen and remarked, “Awe, Sarahjane, I am sorry your doll fell on the floor.”

I turned my head to see the results of the terrible pothole in the road, not the driver’s maneuvers, had caused.  Ha ha!!  I sweetly asked Emmajoy to put her book down and get the doll for Sarahjane.  She exclaimed, “Mom, I am reading my Bible.  I can’t stop and get it for her.”  My sweet words quickly turned to fury as I calmly retaliated, “Emmajoy, do you know how many times I have pulled this car over for you to pick up a doll, drink, candy, or woobie?  You put your Bible down right now and get your sister’s doll.”

There are so many times we go to the Bible and leave unchanged.  We read the Word and think we have ingested it and walk away with no passion about its power.  Like Emmajoy, when the test comes, we fail big time because we never have felt compassionate about all our Savior did for us on the Cross. 

I challenge you today to truly seek compassion in your daily lives without judgment.  If your husband needs encouragement take a moment to write him a note.  If a friend is in need, go the extra mile.  If your child is in need of a special moment with you, make it happen!  Put feet to your faith and allow the Spirit”s compassion to rule your actions. 

“The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

Psalms 19:8b