Grace Living

The scenario is often similar. I begin the day with checklist in hand. My list usually spells out enough tasks for two or three days, but I'm confident I can complete them in a single 24-hour period. From routine weekly chores to the projects that require immediate attention, there's plenty to keep me busy. At the end of the day, I glance at my checklist and evaluate how I did. Checkmarks validate my success. An uncompleted task pushes my toward failure.

Then I see it. Subconsciously, I've slipped into a familiar pattern. Once again I'm measuring myself based on performance. It's all too easy to shift into a mindset that requires a certain amount of work to be done in order to be validated. That's human nature at its best. If I DO x, y, and z, surely I'll be accepted and counted worthy. But there's a better way.

It's spelled, G-R-A-C-E. The dictionary defines grace as divine love and protection bestowed freely upon mankind. Sound familiar? The Apostle Paul writes of God's gift of grace freely extended to all mankind, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9; KJV). Before I was saved, I could do nothing to earn my salvation. After all, "...God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). So why should I think that after salvation, I have to maintain favor with God through performance? Once again, grace comes to the rescue.

Living by grace takes the burden off of me to perform. As I humble myself in the presence of a holy God, I realize I can't live the Christian life in my own strength. But as I submit myself to His will, I can accomplish anything I face through His strength. The Psalms attest to the strength found in the Lord. "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect" (Psalms 18:32). "Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy" (Psalms 59:17). And again in Psalms 71, the author acknowledges the strength of God, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only" (Psalms 71:16).

Grace living. Shifting the focus from a need to perform, to a desire to submit. Taking the emphasis off of self and placing it on the One who is worthy of all praise, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the age-old struggle between pride and humility. Do I find my sense of self-worth in my own accomplishments? Or do I base my self-worth on who I am in Christ? Only grace living frees me to be all that God created me to be. Only then can I accomplish what He has called me to do!

What about you? Do you find yourself performing or living by grace? Choose to humble yourself today and go in the strength of the Lord your God! "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:10).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding me of Your love. I cannot do anything that will make You love me more, nor can I do anything that will make You love me less. Help me to submit to Your will that I might be able to live by grace through Your strength. Amen.

Pressure-Packed Road Trips

The title of her lesson was, "Road Trip to the Fruit of the Spirit." Subconsciously, I sat up a little straighter as she began speaking. Her tri-fold, display board boasted a winding roadway that was traversed by a car backed with velcro. The cute, red vehicle could easily be moved from one location to another along the road. It was a whirlwind trip - visiting nine destinations in the space of twelve minutes! From start to finish, we visited: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

Our daughter, Riley, had the opportunity to compete at the state level in Bible Teaching this week. She was to present her lesson as if she were speaking to a children's class. Riley enjoys helping out in the kindergarten Sunday school class at our church, and has been able to get some incredible hands-on experience at school in her Introduction to Teaching class. As parents, we were privileged to sit-in on her "...Fruit of the Spirit" presentation. Her enthusiastic expression coupled with a graceful delivery made me come away thinking, "She's a natural!" But at the state level, the competition can be intense. With ten other competitors, only time would tell who would advance to the national level.

After lunch, we got in the car and made the two and a half hour drive home. Time seemed to stand still as we waited to hear something...anything. At nine thirty, we got the call - Riley had been chosen to advance to the national competition! Wow! What an honor! Now the preparation begins in earnest. The judges comments are taken apart line by line. Adjustments are made on visual aids and oral delivery. Tension mounts at the national level. The pressure is on. How will our daughter handle it?

Thinking of the tremendous tension Riley will surely encounter, I was reminded of a different 'road trip' that gave rise to some literal 'pressure.' Nakalele Blowhole was unlike anything my husband and I had ever seen. Noted as one of the most spectacular sights in West Maui, this blowhole is a result of the shoreline being undercut by the ocean. The surf continues its relentless pounding underneath the lava shelf, and escapes through a large hole on the surface of the lava, spewing out water as high as 70 feet in the air! We had to agree with the writer of our guidebook, who described the landscape that surrounds the blowhole as, "an alien war zone where combatants fought with acid" (Andrew Doughty, Maui Revealed, p. 58).

The amount of water forced through the blowhole can vary tremendously - depending on the tide and size of the surf. We just happened to visit on the right day. The Nakalele Blowhole was doing its thing! The incredible pressure created by the pounding waves was delivering a mesmerizing spectacle. A fellow visitor let us know that of the eight times he had visited the blowhole, this was the most spectacular. Conditions were perfect and the blowhole was delivering! Who could imagine that such intense pressure could produce something so beautiful?!

Depending on our response, pressure can either paralyze us with fear, or produce something beautiful that propels us to victory. If we try to handle things in our own strength, chances are the pressure will eventually ruin us. On the other hand, if we allow the Lord to be our strength, we can hold up under the pressure. Others will notice, and we'll be given the opportunity to point them to our Strength. Remember the words recorded in second Samuel, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: And he maketh my way perfect" (2 Samuel 22:33; KJV).

There IS strength in God for all who trust in Him. The stresses and pressures of life will continue to come, how we handle them is up to us. Allow the pressure to point you to God, Who alone can produce something beautiful in your life, and propel you to victory!