April 7, 2025

GRACE AND HOLINESS TOGETHER

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors. I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm, and my wrath sustained me.

Isaiah 63:4-5 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God initiated the work of redemption. God hates sin, rebellion, injustice, and evil. We often think of Jesus as coming as a meek and mild lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. This is a correct image but not a complete image.

Jesus will return to earth to destroy sin, rebellion, injustice and evil. When He returns it will be as a conqueror king riding a white horse. On Palm Sunday Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. In the book of Revelation, He is seen on a stallion as a warring king.

Let’s not allow the enemy to misconstrue our image of Jesus. In my childhood years I saw God as a big judge in the sky with a black robe and raised billy club waiting to smack me when I did something wrong. My upbringing viewed God as a judge ready to pounce on my every bad thought, word, or deed.

I began to understand grace and realized His love and patience with my imperfections. A revelation of God’s grace helped me to realize His love for me and desire for me to live in peace and assurance of my salvation and worth. 

I believe it is important to see both sides of God. He desires to show us His love and grace, but He is also a God of justice and holy. He cannot tolerate sin. 

We must learn to incorporate both elements of the character of God into our dealing with people. Grace must be our first and primary response to fallen humanity. But we can’t lose sight of holiness in our rush for grace. There must be an element of the expectation to be striving to be like a holy God. 

In grace and mercy Jesus went to the cross to redeem humanity. God offers this grace to the entire world. When we accept God’s grace our desires change to want to please our holy God. To be like Jesus. 

Grace gives us the desire and ability to please God. If the desire or ability is lacking, we need to lean into grace. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and transform our thinking. 

Balancing love and justice towards others will always be a struggle. I have decided when in doubt I will err on the side of grace. 

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit search my heart. Help me to understand grace and justice. Help my heart and mind to receive Your grace and live in holiness. Empower me to love others with grace. 

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”