Laced With Grace

Mark and Remi

A couple of years ago my son Mark adopted a rescue puppy. Mark worked hard to train Remi and teach him to obey. He’s a smart dog and learned most things quickly. The discipline Remi has had the most trouble with is coming when called.

If we are inside he does pretty well. But if he gets the chance to escape through the front door or out the back gate we have to chase him down. Even now, two years later, Remi is prone to wander.

I know the feeling. Like Remi, I am prone to wander. Prone to leave the straight path God has marked out for me. Prone to drift away from my Master. From self-righteous attitudes and selfish desires to lack of discipline and wrong motivations, in my flesh I am weak. I need Him constantly and completely.

The words of a particular hymn keep popping into my head. “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was penned by Robert Robinson in 1758. Here’s the fourth verse of this loved well-known hymn:

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

I too pray that God will bind my wandering heart to Him with His good fetter. I pray He will take my heart, seal it, and protect it for eternity. I know I will not be perfect this side of heaven, but I do desire to be more like Jesus tomorrow than I am today. Then on that great day, when Jesus returns, I will be “freed from sinning.” I will then “see His lovely face” (verse four of “Come Thou Fount”).

Do you ever feel “prone to wander?” How do you actively stay close to “the God you love?”

Yesterday, my husband and I tried a new restaurant. Well, it’s not really “new,” just new to us. All the restaurants around here are new to us since we just moved to the area. We’ve enjoyed trying them out and discovering which will be our favorites.

The one we tried yesterday serves fried fish, seafood, and Cajun dishes. I had grilled Tilapia and shrimp, Cajun fries and Cole Slaw. My husband had fried catfish. The food was delicious and well-priced. But I don’t know if we will eat there again. Why not? The service was probably the worst we’ve ever encountered.

The atmosphere was casual. They take orders at the counter and then bring the food to your table. I sat in our chosen booth while my husband ordered. It took a full 15 minutes to place the order. The employee was far from informed about the menu and knew less about the register. Thirty minutes later my food came, but Wayne’s did not arrive for another twenty.

We weren’t the only ones having problems. A family behind us had a similar experience. The husband’s meal arrived but the wife and son’s did not. Fifteen minutes later the waitress discovered their meals cooling off in to-go boxes on the counter. Then I heard another man asking why they would not honor the coupon he brought in. And someone else across the restaurant asked why they still had not gotten their food. It doesn’t matter how good the food and the prices are, if this kind of service continues the restaurant won’t be in business much longer.

We Christians have the best news, the best gift to offer in the entire world:

All of us are sinners and deserve death, eternal separation from God. But God offers forgiveness and eternal life through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. And all this is free! A gift of grace and mercy from God!

So why isn’t the world jumping at the chance to accept this free gift? There are many reasons people reject Jesus. Sometimes though the problem is in the “service.” Sometimes we Christians give priority to other things. Sometimes, we don’t know how to share the Gospel message. Sometimes, we share the news with a self-righteous attitude. Sometimes, our lives don’t look like they’ve been radically changed by the Spirit of God.

Peter spoke directly to this issue:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 4:15-16, NIV

Here is a summary of Peter’s points:

• Make Christ your absolute priority.
• Know how to share the Good News about Him.
• Remember you are a sinner saved by grace.
• Share the Gospel respectfully and graciously.
• Live a godly life so no one can slander Christ’s name because of you.

Have any of these points struck a chord with you today? Is there one you particularly need to work on in your life?

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and , I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

 – 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

My recipe box contains a yellowed recipe card with faded ink. Every time I come across it, memories rush back at the sight of my grandmother’s familiar handwriting. She had lovingly prepared this very dish for many family feasts. As she got older, there were lots of grandchildren and even great-children to help with the cooking, but she always insisted on contributing. Today, years after her death, my grandmother’s recipes are still found at family gatherings.

Her love of cooking was not the only thing my grandmother shared with her family. She was quick to tell us what God was teaching her and she strongly encouraged each of us in our own faith. She often wrote us notes or sent us timely devotionals. And she always prayed. My grandmother actively passed her faith to the next generation. Her faith is a part of mine.

I reflected on this legacy of faith this weekend. My parents, our three grown children, and two son-in-laws all visited to celebrate my birthday. Although the way has not always been smooth, our three children love the Lord and our two daughters have married godly young men. Now our oldest daughter and her husband our expecting our first grandbaby! I can hardly wait to continue to pass along the legacy of faith that began with my grandmother.

Like Timothy’s mother and grandmother, I must pass along the precious gift of faith entrusted to me by my parents and grandmother. I must guard it, nurture it, and share it with my children and grandchildren. I cannot be too diligent. I cannot spend too much time in prayer. I cannot talk too much about what a great and awesome God we serve.

Who in your life passed along a legacy of faith? Who in your life needs to receive a faith legacy? What can you do to pass it along?