Grace & Mercy

Throughout scripture and in just about any sermon being delivered we hear about God's grace and God's mercy. To many people, those two words might actually sound interchangeable, but in all actuality, there is a distinct difference in these two incredible gifts from our Heavenly Father. First, let's define the two words in their Biblical sense, and then from there we can determine how God wants us to live out His grace and His mercy in our own lives. 

 

As I was reading a devotional earlier this week, I came across a pretty simple definition of grace and mercy. The author put it like this, grace is receiving something that we do not deserve. God forgives us our sins and offers us eternal life in Heaven. I know in my own life I really don't deserve a gift such as that. In my daily life I know I falter and many times fail to live out a life that is fully committed to God. No one is perfect and we all fall short, and that is where the grace of God enters the equation. "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. I Corinthians 15:10." God's gift of grace gives us confidence that His forgiveness is not a product of what we can do, but more a gift God gives us even though we don't deserve it. 

 

And then there is mercy. God's gift of mercy in contrast to grace is that God gives us mercy or forgiveness, even though what we truly deserve is punishment or condemnation for the life we lived and the choices we have made that are contrary to God's will for our lives. I reference the life of Paul regularly, but if you look at his life before this conversion from Saul to Paul, he definitely didn't look like a candidate to serve as the conduit for the expansion of the early Christian church. And more so than that, who would have imagined that God would choose Paul to write an extensive portion of the New Testament? Paul persecuted Christians, he was paid for fleshing out Christians, having them arrested, and in many cases put to death. From his own writing in Romans 6:23 Paul proclaims, "For the wages of sin is death;" basically pointing out that our sins destroy us and condemn us, but then in the same verse Paul goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Meaning we deserve death, but God is merciful and He offers us eternal life when we sincerely seek out God's forgiveness. In other words, mercy is not receiving what we deserve and instead receiving what God freely offers us through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.

 

Just to summarize, grace then is receiving a gift from God that we do not deserve, and mercy is NOT receiving something from God that we actually do deserve. So, if God gives us mercy and grace then would it not sound reasonable that we need to demonstrate those same Godly principles in our daily walk of life? If God is going to forgive us and call us His children, then should we not be more eager to forgive those that really don't deserve our forgiveness? When you get cut off on the highway, does it make you happy to see that same car pulled over and the highway patrolman writing the driver a ticket? Is that what mercy looks like? Let's make the situation a little tougher, what happens when a family member betrays your trust? Do we give them grace and forgive them for the wrong, or do we hold a grudge and disown them from the family? Grace says we forgive, not because the family member deserves it, but because God forgave us when we didn't deserve it and now we should live our lives in that same manner. God's mercy is available to each of us, not because we deserve it, but because God is full of grace and He wants us to receive his offer of life eternal! Will you accept his offer today?

Coach Carter

 

Lean In

Think about it for a minute, what do you typically do when someone wants to whisper or speak to you in a quiet voice? For me the answer is I lean in. I'm not sure if that is a basic instinct or what, but as I reflect on my observations over the years, what I recollect is that people just lean in to get closer to the speaker when they want to hear what is being said, especially if it is being said in a quiet voice. 

The Old Testament prophet Elijah had one of those leaning in experiences with God back in 1Kings 19:11-13. Elijah was in a desperate situation and was basically hiding out from Jezebel's soldiers on Mt. Horeb. He was needing to hear from God, and here's how God delivered His message. Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. God could have gotten Elijah's attention and delivered any message He wanted to through the storm, wind, fire, or quake, but instead God wanted Elijah to lean in and get really close to Him so, he whispered in a small, still voice. 

I believe that is what God wants us to do in our relationship with Him. When we face life's storms, when we feel shaken as if we are enduring an ongoing earthquake, God wants us to lean in and listen to what He wants us to know and understand. But how do we lean in to an invisible God you ask? We get in our own Mt. Horeb spot. A quiet place where we get alone with God and listen for that small still voice. We lean in to the Word of God and read His Holy Bible, and we most importantly hear from God when we develop a true relationship with Him. We lean in and by doing that we hear from Him in the midst of our storms, trials, and afflictions.  

James 4:8 tells us to "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...". As we begin to lean in to hear what God is saying to us, He draws closer to us. Leaning in to God is where we stop relying on our own understanding, finding strength through trusting, and an inner peace fortified in our faith. The storms may rage, and the night may be dark, but when we have the promises of God near our heart, mind, body, and soul, we lean in and He is there. Lean in!

Coach Carter

Good Morning!

Have you ever given a moment's thought to the simple little phrase "Good morning"? I imagine, if you are like me those two words come out of your mouth numerous times each day, more than likely without a thought being given to what we mean in our brief encounter in passing. Are we wishing them a "good day"? Are we informing them that at that moment our morning has gone well? Or could it possibly just be two words that have no meaning at all behind them and we are just being cordial? I certainly hope it isn't the latter case! 

I was reading through some scriptures today when I happened upon this verse from Psalm 143, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." Psalm 143:8. May each morning remind us of God's unfailing love, now doesn't that just resonate of what would symbolize a "Good Morning"? As the sun rises in the east each morning, we should be quick to proclaim that it is a "good morning"! 

As the sun displaces the darkness of night, our hope and prayers should be for God to illuminate the paths that we should take and the words we share. So, of course each morning is a good morning, especially when we have that personal relationship with the God of All Creation! Just as the sun rises, I too rise each morning. I give thanks for that ability to rise out of bed and from there it is a plethora of giving thanks for all God has done for me, all He has given me, and I thank Him in advance for what He is planning to do through me each day. The sun rising is a constant reminder that each morning is a "good morning". 

So, as you start out your day today, keep in mind what you are saying when you bid someone you pass a "Good morning". The Son has risen and the morning sunrise is a constant reminder of His unfailing love. The goodness of His daily promise to be with us always (Joshua 1:9) gives us the authority to proclaim that today is indeed a Good Morning!

Coach Carter

 

Vending Machine Faith

What comes to mind when you encounter a road sign that reads, "Rest Area Ahead"? For some a restroom break is envisioned, for others a chance to pick up some travel site brochures about the area, and for most the snack area for refreshments pops forefront and center.  Coffee for the weary driver, soft drinks, chips, and a candy bar for the kids, and a wide assortment of other sweet and salty items for pretty much everyone young and old alike. We scan the glass encased options and settle on our choice. From there it's a matter of dropping in the correct financial obligation which in turn sets the machine into motion and instantly our snack drops down to the retrieval area. Presto, we get exactly what we want. That system works well for snacks and drinks, but for some folks, the vending machine mentality is how they anticipate their prayers and supplications should work with God. 

 

With vending machines, we have a need, (hunger or thirst) and the vending machine can give us what we need to quench our thirst or curb our appetite. When we pray to God we have a need and we come to God to express our needs, concerns, and our pleas for His divine intervention. Along the way, we may thank Him, yet too often our prayers may appear to be similar to our encounters with a vending machine. 

 

In the face of adversity or affliction, we turn to God for a solution to the adverse conditions we face, and in the midst of our afflictions we come to God with a prayer for healing from the illness or condition we or someone we love is facing. Not only is that our approach in our prayers to God, but after we go to God with our intercessions and supplications we want to step back and watch God put the machine into motion so we can retrieve our answered prayers much like the candy bar dropping down into the receiving area of the vending machine. Life would be far less complex if that were how things worked, but I would suggest that if life were that simple, we would not grow in our relationship and dependence on God to see us through life's ups and downs, ins and outs, and all of the valleys and peaks that we encounter throughout the journey created for us to travel. 

 

The Apostle Paul provides us with a better picture of how we should approach God with our prayers in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Paul endured so many hardships and constant persecutions that it would have been easy for him to have walked up to God's vending machine and prayed for immediate relief from the afflictions he faced. Yet above the scripture from Galatians tells us that Paul realized he was no longer living his life for his own benefit, but instead Paul identified that he was living his life centered around trusting God and His plan. Living that life out to the fullest regardless of what he may have wanted in his flesh became Paul’s strength and focus. 

 

Jesus faced a vending machine decision when he was facing the imminent reality that His life here on earth was about to come to an end. Jesus prayed to His father and asked God “... if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” Luke 22:42 When we develop our relationship with God we begin to realize that our prayers may not be in alignment with God's plans for our life. The hardships we face may be the stepping stones towards the victories that God has prepared if we are faithful, trust, and believe. What we perceive to be the best outcome in a situation may be a good answer for us, but for God's plan it may not even crack the surface of what will be accomplished if we are faithful and stand strong in trusting God's way. 

 

Center your prayers not on what "you" want, but place your wants, needs, prayers, intercessions, and supplications in God's hands and submit to the call He has on your life and the purpose you will fulfill through His plans for your life. I am thankful that life is not a vending machine! I have grown through my adversity, I have learned to endure through my afflictions, and I continue to see more of God's purpose for this life He has given me to live through the trials and tribulations of this world. That is my prayer for you today. Instead of us asking God for the prayers we pray to be answered the way we want them to be answered, may we pray for God's hand to be on our lives and may we live out God's purpose for this life we are living. "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12:9-10. 

Coach Carter