Better than OK

Perry Bell
    Sometimes we view grace and truth as opposite sides of the spectrum rather than as two sides to the same coin.
    In truth we are confronted with our sinfulness and our need for someone to free us from ourselves and the current sin of the world around us. This truth then points us to grace and not a feeling of hopelessness. As we proclaim truth as Jesus did, we need to make sure that there is an equal measure of grace ready to be given. In grace, rather than God giving us what we really deserve, He gives us what we desperately need. As Jesus entered the world, he came “full of grace and truth.”
    In today’s culture we’ve substituted tolerance for grace. Tolerance says ‘I’m OK, you’re OK, we’re all OK so let’s just stay that way.’ But grace is a much more radical acceptance because grace says come as you are. Let’s see the real you—the good, the bad and the ugly of who you are—and by the way, you get to see the good, bad, and ugly of my life too. But we don’t stay there—we recognize that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has something better for all of us to pursue. Grace says we’re all messed up and God has something better…and we are going to pursue this with God together.
    Lord, help me to share grace and truth with everyone I come into contact with today. Let me show them the better way of the Good News. Amen.