4 - Never alone

There are so many different messages that come from the story of the Cross, but one that brings great consolation to many is this: Christ dies for us in order that we might be reunited with the Father. What Christ does for us on the Cross of Calvary is that he makes sure we are never alone again. Our sin doesn't need to separate us from the Father, nor from those around us.

"Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labour:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for the grace found in the Cross. Thank you that through the saving work of Jesus I am never alone. My sin doesn't exclude me from your kingdom, because Jesus has paid the price for it all.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

5 - Great Love

The song of David speaks into the Great Love that God has for humanity.  The key verse for me in Psalm 5 is verse 7 because it reminds me of the great invitation that we all are given. We are invited into the house of God, not because of our status or holiness, but only BY GOD'S GREAT LOVE.

"But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down    toward your holy temple." - Psalm 5:7

Our God is generous and hospitable.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:13

Living in Grace
D3LM3

6 - God hears our cries

I am convinced that god hears our cries for mercy and grace. This is the essence of the easter story, is it not? God hears the struggles of humanity, realises our deep need for a saviour and so sends us the best god has - his son. 

This gift reveals to us the nature of our god. And so when david cries out to god in psalm 6, we look back at his song and say to david - "god has heard your cries. God has heard my cries. Hallelujah!"

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
    heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
³ My soul is in deep anguish.    How long, Lord, how long? - Psalm 6:1-3

Living in Grace
D3LM3

7 - Reputations, a song and dance, Boomerangs

From the title of this post you may be tempted to think I am writing about the Australian cricketers again, but really I am not! The powerful words of Ecclesiastes 7 have taken on new meaning for me today, especially when I have reflected on them from a modern translation. It was the themes of, Reputation (v.1), Song and Dance (v.5) and the Boomerang effect of anger that really got me thinking.

"A good reputation is better than a fat bank account.
Your death date tells more than your birth date.

^...

³ Crying is better than laughing.
It blotches the face but it scours the heart.

^...

⁵ You’ll get more from the rebuke of a sage
Than from the song and dance of fools.

⁶ The giggles of fools are like the crackling of twigs
Under the cooking pot. And like smoke.

^....

⁸ Endings are better than beginnings.
Sticking to it is better than standing out.

⁹ Don’t be quick to fly off the handle.
Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.

The 'good reputations' of the Religious leaders in Jesus' day ended up being destroyed by their 'song and dance' behaviour. Their anger at Jesus only ended up 'boomeranging' back to bite them in the end. I am sure there is a lesson for us in all of this. What do you think?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

8 - Finding Life

“Now then, my children, listen to me;
    blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me find life
    and receive favour from the Lord.
³⁶ But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
    all who hate me love death.” - Proverbs 8

Easter is a fantastic time to remember that, in embracing Jesus, we are 'finding life.'  
May you get to experience LIFE in all it's fullness.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

9 - Story of the forgotten poor man

I love a good story. But, I enjoy even more, a story with a great ending. However, as I read through Ecclesiastes 9 today, I was a little saddened by the short story told by Solomon. Have a read of this yourself and see how you feel.

¹⁴ There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. ¹⁵ Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man." - Ecclesiastes 9:14-15

In two verses Solomon tells the bleak story of a hero who was not remembered? Why was he forgotten? Was it because he was poor or was it because the townsfolk soon forgot his wisdom? Did their lives just carry on, because the threat of war dulled their senses? I guess we will never really know the answer to this, but it does lead me to this point:

The story of Easter is about a King who became poor for the sake of humanity. This King gave up his own life, in order to defeat the cunning enemy. The people cheered for a short while, but soon they also forgot what he had done for them. Sadly, very few people remembered the sacrifice of the King.

Let us remember what Christ did for us.

Living in grace
D3LM3

10 - Steve Smith and the dead fly

A lot has been said and written about the Australian ball-tampering scandal in the last 3 days. If you have no clue about what I have just said, then check out some of the news channels - it is all over the news. Anyway, as I was doing my Lenten reading this morning, I used Ecclesiastes 10 as my text. I hadn't even got passed the first verse when my mind when racing back to Steve Smith's actions.

"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.
² The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
    but the heart of the fool to the left.
³ Even as fools walk along the road,
    they lack sense    and show everyone how stupid they are." - Ecclesiastes 10:1-3

One moment of madness is now like a 'dead fly' in the ointment of Smith's cricketing career. He is considered to be one of the best batsmen in the world, and he had a fairy good track record as a captain, yet that 'little folly' tarnishes all his previous honours and achievements. 

Personally, I think that Steve Smith needs a little grace at a time like this. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy seeing the Aussies beaten at their own game, just like many of us do, but the reason why I am suggesting a little 'grace' for the man is because of our definition of 'grace.' Remember, GRACE is undeserved merit or favour. We are all quick to hold onto God's gift of Grace for us, when we have messed up with the sin in our lives, so let us offer the same to those who sin more publicly. We should just grateful that our sins are not viewed millions of times over. 

So, Steve Smith will be held accountable for his actions, and rightly so. In the same way, we are also accountable for our actions and when we have erred we need to make amends. However, as Christ-followers we know that the only way we can be restored is through the mercy and Grace of Jesus. 

Let the folly of one man be a lesson to all of us, but then we should also allow the Grace of another man (Jesus) be a GIFT to all.

Lent is the time to speak of, and reveal God's Grace.

Living in Grace
D3LM3