The Ghosts of Leadership Past - Part 3

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32 ESV

These verses give such a deep understanding of the grace economy. We see deep love unvarnished by sentimentality. The God who gives gifts with no strings attached because of His Son and creates unbroken relationships also does not let hardship tip the scales of His judgement.

He did not spare His Son. He might not spare us. Not because He is against us. He will never be against us. If the situation needs a victim then all believers are candidates to fill that position.

Are you edified yet?

Grace is a 'get what you don't deserve' economy and that goes for blessings and hardships. Grace puts all our concepts of human fairness and shakes them until nothing is left.

The moral person wants everything 'even Steven'... 'One for you and one for me'... It is not that way. Our concepts of fairness can haunt us and lead us down a road without satisfactory answers. Why? Is a maddening question at times like those.

'Who?' Is a better question. The God that is our Father is also a potter and a King who makes personal decisions and decisions on a global scale. He is our King and also our Comforter.

"Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat." Hebrews 13:9-10 ESV

I need a voice that tells more more than 'Everything is going to be alright.' and 'Don't worry God is going to fix it.'

Everything is going to be alright but things break and they aren't always fixed the way we think.

Jesus had a God that raised Him from the dead but didn't save Him from the cross and so do we! I need to hear that. All my effort may not save me from trouble and I could not ever put enough effort forth to save my own soul. My only hope in this life is to have a God who is for me and has mercy on me.

If we have Jesus that is the God we have. If Jesus has us we can be comforted and held in safety by His nail scarred hands. No trouble need ever separate us from love. Fairness has gaps... Grace doesn't.