Friday, March 11, 2011

When 'null and void' do not apply

Scripture verse that caught my attention today: Galatians 2:21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Observation: The grace of God cannot be nullified.

Application: Most of us have probably had an inappropriate thought sometime within the last 24 hours…or 24 minutes…or 24 seconds! ☺ What’s up with that? Why such thoughts? Shouldn’t those of us who claim to be Christians be above such things?

In an ideal world, yes. But we live in what theologians call a broken or fallen world. And regardless of what we may or may not be able to project on the outside, inside we are broken and fallen people.

Is this brokenness a disappointing a disappointing reality? Yes. But it’s not the whole story either…

The other part of the story—in fact our story—is that those of us who are broken have in Christ someone who can mend us; those of us who have fallen have in Christ someone who can help us back up. After all, Christ himself was broken for us; Christ himself fell for us. Yet the horror of his crucifixion was no match for the power of his resurrected life.

Inappropriate thoughts and actions may be our daily reality in this broken and fallen world, but they do not ultimately define us. Instead we are claimed lock, stock, and barrel by the crucified and risen one.

We may not deserve such gracious favor. But according to the Apostle Paul, we can’t nullify it either.

Prayer: Lord, help us to find in your gracious favor a level of acceptance deep enough to encourage us on in spite of our many foibles. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture readings today included: Deuteronomy 16-18, Psalm 38 and Galatians 2)

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