Words are such a powerful thing. They start wars and establish peace. They usher in grace and sentence death. They begin and end freedom.
There have been words flung around with great conviction these last few weeks. “No cake for you” has been on the lips and fingertips of so many. There is a great disconnect as we each fill our heads with comebacks and convictions to fling at the other side, never really listening only ever preparing our own words. There is power in words. In the words we listen to and the words we speak.
Grace has been on my mind. Grace is always on my mind. As we exit the Holy Week, the week where Christ gave his life for our sins, I look back at my blog feed and Facebook friends and I see post after post of misunderstandings, fear, and the mess that is life.
Neither side is listening.
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Both sides have similar fears. Fear of discrimination, fear of rights being stripped away or never granted in the first place. They are legitimate fears. When we discriminate against one group, whoever that may be, we prep the guillotine for our own heads. The tables will one day turn, if they haven’t already.
Grace always wins.
I am for religious freedom. I am for personal freedom. I will not shove my religious beliefs down anyone’s throat because I do not want their beliefs shoved down mine. I am for freedom. I am for grace. I am for kindness. We can sit down at the table together over cake, whoever you are, we can talk about my faith and your faith, about my freedoms and your freedoms and not find condemnation. We can sit at the feet of Jesus together and ask him what path we are to follow.
I don’t expect you to agree. I’ve walked a different path and I am forever seeking God’s will in my life before that of man.
I believe in a gospel of grace and I am forever struggling to let go of the goodness gospel. I can strive forever to be perfect and miss the mark. I will continue to better myself, to search the Scriptures for what is right and good, hold myself accountable to others who are doing the same, and reach towards shining Christ’s love to others. The word christian means little Christ. May I always seek his guidance in what that looks like.
*In my journey of grace Family Christian sent me the book From Good to Grace, Letting Go of the Goodness Gospel by Christine Hoover in exchange for an honest review.
This has always been my struggle. I know that I am undeserving of salvation. It’s the message of the Old and New Testament. We are sinners in the hands of a holy God. I want to earn that salvation, though it has always been freely given to me. I struggle with my choices daily. Sin is irrational in the face of a good God who gave his life for me, who already paid the penalty, and yet I still sin. It is impossible for me to earn God’s favor. How can I earn something that is already given?
Do I still continue in my sin? Yes. Because I am frail. Because I am human. Do I strive to do better? Yes. Because I belong to Christ. Because I am human.
The message Christine Hoover tells over and over is of freedom. It is a freedom from guilt and condemnation. It is a freedom to love others. It is a freedom from checklists and sleepless nights. Christ alone convicts, he offers forgiveness, he offers freedom. Embrace his grace and offer it to others.
All are welcome to come to the Father, no matter where or who they are, don’t close the door on them. I welcome your thoughts of grace in the comments. Let’s talk.
Words are so powerful! We’ve been reading through Proverbs at home and I am always struck by how much it talks about the power of our words. It is scary! I think of my words and are they building up or tearing down. Great post! Thank you!
A great article and I’ve had my eye on this book. As for grace, I think my appreciation for it grows almost daily. A truer song has never been written, “Amazing Grace.”
hi hope, i enjoyed your post…and photos:) we write on complimentary topics! the past 2 years we have been attending a church with a strong emphasis on grace in its culture. (my husband is a retired pastor.) we have enjoyed it and found it challenging in some areas even tho’ it is basically what we have believed all along. i guess we can always grow in our understanding of GOD’s grace can’t we?
blessings as you minister in the military.
Gritty grace is such a great name! I love your most recent post. It is so true that God doesn’t need us in everything for it to be a success. Hard to remember sometimes. He is God and I am not.
Grace is my 2015 word! I enjoyed your post because “striving” is not freedom!
I found you at Inspire Me Mondays.
Words are so powerful. What we say does indeed matter. I’m with you. I want to be able to talk about my beliefs without condemning those who don’t believe like me. Grace indeed!! Grace is such a beautiful holy gift!!
I agree, the Bible talks about how much power our words and tongue have. As well as how much power grace and the Spirit has. I too don’t expect many to agree with me, I don’t like religion shoved down my throat and believe in religious freedom. Great post!
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Take this with a grain of salt as I am early in my walk with Christ. I have very strange religious upbringing. Unconventional even. I do know one thing though. People can’t have it both ways. You can’t say you love the Jesus and then judge people in his name. That’s not how it works. I’m not even good at bible knowledge and I know that much.
Side note- I’m a cake decorator by trade so I’ve been all over this cake debacle of late. Let me tell you that I’m pro Christian and I’ll also make you whatever cake your little heart desires. I love you as a person. Without judgement on what you wear, what color you are, or who you marry. It’s not mine to judge you. It’s mine to love you. Let them eat cake.
I love how mercy and grace go together in the Scriptures. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. What grace is this that we can come boldly to His throne to obtain mercy and find grace in our time of need! So precious is the free gift of Salvation through faith by grace, not by our own goodness. Thanks for sharing.
It took me awhile to figure out the cake references…I don’t watch the news and I only had one Facebook friend post something about it ;). I think too often we think of grace as being something we receive (because we’re not that bad) and not as something that we are commanded to extend to others (no matter how ‘bad’ we judge them to be). It’s all about love.
So true. May we always be learning to give more.
This is a beautiful post. You’re right - words have SO much power! And you’re right again…grace always triumphs. Many blessings to you this week!
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Beautiful thoughts, Hope! I hadn’t heard of that book. It sounds like one I’d like to read. Thank you!
Thanks for the reminder of how important are words are….they can encourage or tear down. I like that….Grace always wins! Thankful to God for His grace. God bless.