Reflections on Grace

I don't usually post personal reflections on this blog so much (that's usually reserved for my www.xanga.com/punksealkiller site), but for some reason, I decided to post these reflections here today. I don't know why, and I don't even know if anybody reads this blog, but...

"Was God smiling
when He spoke the words
that made the world?
Did He cry about the flood?
What does God's voice sound like
when He sings,
when He's angry?
These are just a few things,
that the angels have on me...
Well, I can't fly
(at least not yet),
I've got no halo on my head.
And I can't even start to picture
heaven's beauty!
But I've been shown the Father's love,
the grace of God has raised me up
to show me things the angels long to look into.
I know things the angels only wish they knew..."
(Angels Wish by Steven Curtis Chapman, "All Things New" album)

It's amazing. The servants of God who do not sin and were created strictly for His pleasure, as His servants, His creatures of obedience, the angels do not have the option of having the kind of relationship with God that we humans have. The angels have not sinned. They are perfectly created and are perfect (else they'd be kicked out of heaven). Yet we, who were created perfect but have rejected righteousness to pursue our own ways and deeds, have the chance to know and love the Heavenly Father in a sweet relationship that angels long to look into...(I Peter 1:10-12).

It amazes me. Amazes me beyond words. I find myself sinning so many times--I am anything but perfect, and today, when I knew I was sinning, it struck me very hard how beautiful and amazing this grace is. Grace. Forgiveness. Mercy. Love. All the things we do not deserve, yet He freely bestows them upon us who will accept His gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Gracious Father, may I be broken free from strongholds and weights that I might serve you more perfectly...not so that I am perfect (that won't be the case until I'm in heaven with you!), but so that I can bring you pleasure, and show the world in which I live how awesome and mighty and gracious you are!

"How can I live,
to show my world
the treasure of Jesus?"
(Steven Curtis Chapman, Treasure of Jesus from "All Things New")

The answer? Simple. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27). The practice, not so simple, but at least I know what I have to do...