Grace Like Rain

"Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions." Romans 14:1

If there is one thing I've learned in my 8 years of being a Christian it's that grace is one of the most important, vital things in my life. I have been shown SO much grace, and I am commanded, convicted, and redesigned to be a creature of grace. I don't mean 'grace' like a ballerina would have. I doubt I'll ever walk gracefully around everywhere, given my tendency for klutziness, lol. I mean the kind of grace that dwells in a person's heart. The kind of grace that forgives your parents when they misjudge you, or the kind of grace you show a best friend when they've really messed up and hurt you. It's the grace that helps you understand that no matter how 'Christian' someone is, they're still human and prone to make mistakes. You know, life is really just a long list of mistakes and what makes a difference is how you respond. No one is immune from messing up and being in need of grace. No one can find true joy without it. Christ didn't die for us so that we could become conceited in Him. He died so that we could be free to love.

Think about it: forgiveness isn't always easy, but how do I want God to treat me when I stand before Him? Do I want God's partiality? Or do I want God to say, "You know, Sarah Katherine-- you did some good stuff, but recently you've really been ticking me off because you've ignored me the past few days. I'm also just not a huge fan of your personality because you're a difficult person. Because of that, I'm through with you. See ya."

Absolutely not. I know that God understand grace too well to even think about doing that. Regardless of my most recent sin before I die, I know that God's forgiveness won't run out because He'll be looking at my love and respect for Christ instead of my fleshly faults. So, don't you think I should treat others accordingly? Christ has never and will never give up on me. How dare I give up on anyone else? That isn't Christ-like. Christ forgave the people that were killing Him WHILE they were killing Him. He didn't wait until after His ascension to think about it and calm down, He had a Spirit of forgiveness in the midst of trouble. That is Biblical. When someone is different or difficult or rude or immature, love them like a warrior loves victory. Love them more than you love yourself.

"We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me'." Romans 15:1-3

The Body of Christ is supposed to be an example of Christ's love for us. I think that a lot of times we're either so terrified of rejection or persecution that we just think of how things should be different without action, OR we're so busy trying to convert people to Christianity that we don't take enough time to care for our family (the Body of Christ).

Jesus said to go and make disciples. The thing about making disciples is that it involves so much more than just telling lost people about Jesus. Discipleship is about having a real relationship with another person, pouring into them, giving them advice, being their shoulder and support during tough times, and showing Christ-like compassion. The Body of Christ is just that - a body. A body works together to accomplish one goal, but when an ankle gets sprained your body doesn't (or shouldn't) ignore any pain and just keep going. If you get a head wound, you don't just let yourself bleed out to do whatever you're doing. Your feet take you to medical care and your hand holds your head tight to stop the blood. Members of the Body get hurt from time to time. We're in a spiritual battle after all! When another Christian is hurting or struggling, we are not supposed to just ignore it and move on. Christ didn't come to ignore the hurting and struggling people of this world. He came to give hope to all people. Do we do that? Are we offering hope or support to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Or are we spending more time in our own selfish conceit focused on OUR ministry and OUR righteousness, instead of GOD's ministry and GOD's righteousness. Have you taken to time to truly ask God on a daily basis what His ministry is?

Are you and I really aware of our pride? Do we practice humility? Are we partial to people when we shouldn't be? Holding grudges and lacking compassion and making fun of other people is just not right. It is not loving or pure or Holy. Comparing ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ and finding confidence in where you think you are, versus where you judge another to be isn't righteous-- it's prideful. We have to become less to make Christ more.

"So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."  John 13:14-15

Who do you need to love right now? Who have you been unfair to? Who have you judged? Who needs mercy and compassion? What are you doing to heal the Body of Christ when it is attacked? What are you doing to encourage all of your brothers and sisters in Christ? How can you become less so that Christ can become more?

"love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:10