Daily Affirmations - Day 1 - Your Grace Over Me: Unmerited Favor
This week's Theme: Your Grace Over Me
Day 1: Unmerited Favor
Out of [Jesus’] fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given (John 1:16)
I hadn't sought out a shopping cart when I entered the store— this was to be a quick focused trip. I needed to find a pair of shoes that would help with some discomfort in one area of my foot. I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for, and one or two brands in mind.
It didn't take me long to find a couple of possibilities I could try. I scooped them against my chest and turned the corner to the small seating area designated for trying shoes. But as I approached the two small benches, I realized they were occupied.
A group stood huddled in earnest conversation around the "back" bench, allowing only a limited view of the person occupying the seat. Meanwhile, a youngish gentleman lay half-sprawled over the other seat, phone glued to his ears. No one seemed to be trying on shoes.
I stood for a moment, debating what I should do. Sound bites from my internal grumbling included words such as "respect," "regard," "courtesy", and "consideration." Finally I decided to put the two pairs of shoes on the edge of the nearest rack, and check for another size in one of the pairs— something I had thought of doing earlier, and had not.
Not more than two or three minutes later, I made my way back to the seats and found them both empty. I sat down on the front bench, martyrdom still oozing from every pore.
A short time later, I made my way to a nearby store where I had agreed to meet my sister. As I walked down the main aisle voices and movement caught my attention. I quickly realized it was the people from the "back bench."
And then I saw him— the man who had been sprawled across the "front bench"— obviously a part of the same group. Only now, seeing him upright and in full view, I noticed that his mobility was quite limited.
I realized that had I encountered this man under different circumstances, I would gladly have offered him the seat— would have given way to accommodate him. And yet, a short time earlier, I had been viewing his occupancy in "my seat" from a pride-padded perch of grievance and griping.
It is easy to be generous "after the fact", when the "facts" clearly follow the scripted circumstances we determine worthy of compassion, consideration, or love. And yet we have a Savior, who taught us the workings of His kingdom:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:38-46 - BSB)
He was to demonstrate this Himself, showing us the meaning of grace— the unmerited favor that offers benefit first, even when, in the final analysis, the facts offer no justification or mitigation:
He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly (1 Peter 2:23 - NLT).
I pray that as God grows us in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18 - KJV), the word "grace" would come to mind sooner when human measures would demand "respect," "regard," "courtesy", and "consideration."
For after all, how little we really do know about facts; how often is not just our physical view, but our entire perspective limited by feelings and emotions, conditionings and expectations, walls and blind spots. And how often we miss, not just broken bodies, but broken souls that need a resting place!
Comments