GoldSample

Glorious grace, limitless love

Whenever I walk the slums, I am challenged to lay down my judgment and pick up His mercy. To let go of my criticism and take hold of His acceptance. To leave behind my own ideals and expectations and lay hold of His grace, once again. 

You and I are no more deserving of the transformational grace and love of Jesus than any slum dweller. We are not made worthy, righteous or deserving by what we have or haven’t done, but solely by what Jesus Himself did.

It is not our right to judge those around us. Instead it’s our job to show mercy, love and grace to all people, in all circumstances, just as we ourselves have received it. 

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)

I have to admit that, at times, I have found the outrageousness of this grace offensive to my small, naturally limited mind.

However, I am learning to allow it to offend me. I want it to challenge and change my heart to become more like Jesus. At times I have failed to understand how it can be possible for this grace to cover not only the desperate situations I have come across, but also my own brokenness, mistakes and regrets. But still it does… 

This grace confounds the wise. It challenges the religious. It shatters our man-made ideals and brings down the lofty. It is poured out in ways our human minds cannot always accept or understand. The fruit of it is beautiful and real. Its fragrance fills and overwhelms your senses. Once you collide with it, nothing is ever the same again.

God’s heart for the poor is obvious – it is written about all through Scripture. His heart for the orphan and the widow is undeniable. He sees beyond the dirt, the addiction, the violence and bad choices. He sees beyond the mistakes, the anger and the regret. He sees those He loves, those He created, those He longs to call his own.

We have to be a part of the answer to these huge challenges – to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting, broken, confused and frightened world.