Too Great Expectations, Part Two
or
Grace upon Grace
or
Grace upon Grace
I wasn't quite satisfied with the resolution I gave in the last post ("Too Great Expectations"), so I did some research on this topic in the Bible and with my pastor. Here's what I came up with:
Big major scandals--the kind that shatter lives and families--don't come from outside forces that overwhelm us. They start with us and start out small, then build. Sometimes, as in King David's case, we put ourselves in a position where we are more likely to offend. Had David been out in the field commanding his armies, as good rulers did in those days, most likely none of his morally disastrous ungodly behavior would have occurred.
What can we learn from this? How can we avoid letting such things happen to us? First, flee from temptation. The disaster on Dateline would never have occurred, had the two adulterers stopped the action right there. Second, don't put yourself in a position where trouble is likely to happen. Third, always be on your guard concerning your vulnerability. If or when you should slip and fall, nip the problem in the bud before it causes major hurts and gets more difficult to deal with. Despite all these efforts, if the worst happens and you or I get involved in a major moral failure, we can minimize the damage by facing it quickly, accepting the consequences, and seeking from our God and our victims forgiveness, with sincere repentant hearts. Needless to say, we must also make amends as best we can for any injuries we caused.
The great theologian Martin Luther pointed out that we will always live with this tension within ourselves--saint and sinner, all at the same time. How then can we live peaceably with ourselves? In the biblical book of John, chapters thirteen to sixteen, Jesus tells us, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, . . . or afraid" (14:27). He doesn't want us to obsess about our sinfulness. He wants us to live lives full of peace, love, and abundant joy. This is what it means, to live in his grace. John writes in 1:16: "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Sounds like a pretty neat way of life, to me.
Have you readers guessed yet why I wasn't satisfied with the first post on high expectations? I love knowing God and being part of his world. At the same time, I just don't want to think that I could cause a major moral failure someday. I came up a good resolution that first time: walking closely with Jesus, but it didn't say enough. I needed to re-visit the topic and, still facing the reality of what it means to be human, find and celebrate with my readers the overriding joy that living in grace brings. I think I made it this time.
Where are you on this scale? Would any of you like to comment on this further? If so, please let me know via e-mail, or Comment on this post, if you prefer.
Walking religiously,
Margaret
P.S. Check my next post on Monday for a lighter touch: Part Three titled "My Saint vs. My Sinner."
Big major scandals--the kind that shatter lives and families--don't come from outside forces that overwhelm us. They start with us and start out small, then build. Sometimes, as in King David's case, we put ourselves in a position where we are more likely to offend. Had David been out in the field commanding his armies, as good rulers did in those days, most likely none of his morally disastrous ungodly behavior would have occurred.
What can we learn from this? How can we avoid letting such things happen to us? First, flee from temptation. The disaster on Dateline would never have occurred, had the two adulterers stopped the action right there. Second, don't put yourself in a position where trouble is likely to happen. Third, always be on your guard concerning your vulnerability. If or when you should slip and fall, nip the problem in the bud before it causes major hurts and gets more difficult to deal with. Despite all these efforts, if the worst happens and you or I get involved in a major moral failure, we can minimize the damage by facing it quickly, accepting the consequences, and seeking from our God and our victims forgiveness, with sincere repentant hearts. Needless to say, we must also make amends as best we can for any injuries we caused.
The great theologian Martin Luther pointed out that we will always live with this tension within ourselves--saint and sinner, all at the same time. How then can we live peaceably with ourselves? In the biblical book of John, chapters thirteen to sixteen, Jesus tells us, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, . . . or afraid" (14:27). He doesn't want us to obsess about our sinfulness. He wants us to live lives full of peace, love, and abundant joy. This is what it means, to live in his grace. John writes in 1:16: "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Sounds like a pretty neat way of life, to me.
Have you readers guessed yet why I wasn't satisfied with the first post on high expectations? I love knowing God and being part of his world. At the same time, I just don't want to think that I could cause a major moral failure someday. I came up a good resolution that first time: walking closely with Jesus, but it didn't say enough. I needed to re-visit the topic and, still facing the reality of what it means to be human, find and celebrate with my readers the overriding joy that living in grace brings. I think I made it this time.
Where are you on this scale? Would any of you like to comment on this further? If so, please let me know via e-mail, or Comment on this post, if you prefer.
Walking religiously,
Margaret
P.S. Check my next post on Monday for a lighter touch: Part Three titled "My Saint vs. My Sinner."
