daily bible readings

I’ve been in business meetings and general meetings and I’ve personally heard of thousands upon thousands of stories from Christians who have been blasted, yelled at, ridiculed and mocked and even ousted from churches because they failed to follow accepted procedures and rules and regulations. In these kinds of situations grace seems to be minimal, if not totally absent.

As we read through the events of Hezekiah’s Passover we see grace abundantly flowing outwards and blessings others. We see compassion and love being shared with unlimited grace. If our churches were filled with such grace, there wouldn’t even be standing room each and every single Sonday.

Such grace is evident in so many areas throughout the celebration. Many who came to Jerusalem had not consecrated themselves and could not, according to Torah, kill the Passover Lamb as each family unit should do. The Priests and Levites could have rightly rejected them and made them step aside while the ceremony was being celebrated. But, grace flowed outwards. The Priests and the Levites stepped in and, contrary to the Law, killed the lambs for them. Relationship is more important than regulations.

Those who were not purified still joined in the celebration and ate the Passover meal, as the Chronicler points out to us, “contrary to what was written.” 2 Chronicles 30:18. King Hezekiah did not slam dunk them or rouse on them. He did not rebuke them sharply or condemn them. Rather, by grace he prayed for them. “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 2 Chronicles 30:19. Grace flowed outwards in compassion and mercy. And God heard the prayer of Hezekiah. “And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.” 2 Chronicles 30:20

The reality is that grace changes hard hearts and melts stubbornness. But, we have to understand what grace is and is not, to be able to accept this statement. Grace is not an attitude of the heart that believes or accepts that sin is okay and that it doesn’t matter. Such an attitude is sinful! Grace acknowledges sin and accepts what sin is in all its vileness and wickedness. Grace reaches out with compassion and mercy. Grace seeks to build people up rather than to tear them down. Grace seeks to grow relationship and love rather than hate and condemnation. Grace seeks to include rather than to exclude. Grace seeks to move people closer to God.

To understand how grace works, picture Miranda who has been gambling behind the scenes for the last 5 years. To date, she has lost about $55,000 of her family’s income and money. Yet, she remains obstinate in her desire to gamble and to provide a better future for her family.

Miranda could be confronted with either grace or with condemnation. It would appear from personal experience that the church is very adept and proficient at dealing with issues via condemnation. It would be very quick and easy to ask Miranda to leave the church and to seek counselling help for her addiction. It would be easy to rage at her and to tell her over and over how sinful she has been and is continuing to be.

But reacting with grace is costly. It’s a sacrifice. It cost God the life of His one and only Son, Jesus, to treat us with grace rather than with condemnation. Why would we expect anything less for us?

To treat Miranda with grace means to acknowledge her sinfulness and the affects of her gambling on the family but not to condemn her or leave her. Grace might mean helping her to budget and to find a job to help her provide for her family. Grace might mean teaching her new skills so that she is more employable. It may mean sitting with her through the wee hours of the night as she fights with temptation. It may mean being available 24/7 so that she can confide in you during her deepest and darkest hours. It may mean paying for the counsellor because her family can’t afford it.

Grace is about not giving people what they truly deserve. God looked at us in our sinfulness and reacted towards us with grace. He did not give us what our sins deserved. He took the punishment we deserved upon Himself. He chose to deal with us in love, mercy and grace. This is what grace means as we approach others. Grace costs us. Showing grace can hurt us and cause us much pain as we choose to wear the pain of injustice and let down. Grace is a sacrifice we joyfully make because this is what God has done for us.

Prayer:

Adoration:

· Adore God for His grace. mercy and love.

 Confession:

· Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness

 Thanks:

· Thank God that He has chosen you to be lavished with love, grace and mercy.

 Supplication:

· Pray that the staff at ChristLife would grow in love, in mercy and in goodness.

· Pray that your church would grow in these things as well.

Discussion Questions

1. What evidence is there in today’s passage that God was okay with the way that the Passover was celebrated?

2. Why was God “happy” with the Passover celebration even though many laws and traditions were broken?

3. Devise a plan to help Miranda that is based on grace not condemnation.