Our Need for Grace

There are two things we underestimate as Christians – the depravity of man and the endlessness of God’s grace and redemption. There’s a quote I found a little while back that seems to demonstrate this.

When you see someone fall in a big way, really destroy all they’ve built & ruin their reputation, don’t ever say “I would never do that” because it reveals you don’t know your own potential for error. When you see someone soaring in their gifts, really growing at a rate that is supernatural & the favor of God on their life is very evident all over everything they do, don’t ever say “That could never be me” because it reveals you don’t know your own potential for greatness!

Sandi Krakowski

Our potential for error

The world acts so surprised by the depths of evil in which people can go. And they look for all these social band-aids to solve it. Social campaigns. New laws and regulations. Demands for equity or “justice”.

But as Christians we know where the real problem lies – a soul devoid of Christ. What we seem to forget is that even the souls with God has a potential for sin.

We see someone fall or struggling and we’re quick with an opinion or judgement. But if we’re all honest we’d be fully aware of the fact that with the right circumstances we could be capable of the same.

There has been a scary amount of Christian leaders who have fallen into depression or sin, committed suicide or have fallen away from the faith. What we need to realize is that you never “arrive” at a place where you don’t have to be on guard about temptation. You never reach a point of immunity from really screwing up in life.

My pastor pointed out recently that ” you will never know what you truly are until what you think you are is tested”. So saying “I would never…!” or “If that were me…” are just words until we’re tested and face that temptation.

This is not a warning to live in fear, but to live in more compassion to those who are struggling. Because “such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.

Our potential for greatness

The good news is that God’s grace is without end, and absolutely NOTHING is outside of His redemption. Every situation can be redeemed.

But as Christians we go around acting like situations are hopeless, like so-and-so is beyond God’s grace.

Someone once said “People hate me when I say this, but if Hitler truly repented before he died he’d be in heaven”. That’s mind-blowing for us to fathom! But why? I don’t think we truly understand the depths of God’s grace and His never-ending quest to redeem every single person – even at the last moment.

This grace can propel us forward to greatness, to do things that we think are impossible.

Like forgive the person that killed your brother.

Like be an inspiration to others despite being born without arms or legs.

When you have a deep revelation of freely receiving, it’s easier to freely give. And it’s a greatness that transcends this world.

Grace for every occasion

In both cases, whether in error or greatness, we need God’s grace. It’s His grace that upholds us when we fall and propels us in our potential. Grace is not just some simple Biblical truth that we get a taste of at salvation and then move on to “deeper” and meatier parts of the Word. No, it is a daily, transformational part – the very essence – of our walk with Christ. It’s shocking. It’s revolutionary. It makes us slightly uncomfortable. Yet it’s what we desperately need to learn to receive and operate in in every occasion.