grace->faith->holiness->

I've been thinking for a while about God's grace--about how it changes everything (to rip off the title from a book by Chuck Smith). Going into holy week this year I had a weird amalgam of thoughts and emotions stirring in my psyche. I was hopeful as I was going to be searching for a job in what will be my family's new home in North Carolina. I was nervous at the prospects of what separation and change would bring. I was also feeling a little guilty over some stupidity I'd exhibited the previous week. During an amazing sermon I heard on Palm Sunday at my parents' church in Greensboro, I took the occasion to confess my sin, to repent, to accept Christ's forgiveness, and then to participate in the Lord's Supper during the service. I'd done what I knew to do, and that was all I thought about it... until the week wore on.

Things seemed to be going great on the job front, but my hopes were beginning to wane as the week continued due to the fact I hadn't heard from an employer that I was particularly excited about. As the hopes faded, doubts began to creep in. I started to doubt whether or not I was good enough for the position, whether my qualifications weren't enough to secure the job, and then, suddenly, that perhaps I wouldn't get the job based on that confessed sin of which I had already repented on Sunday. This really started to get my spirits down, and the disappointment was visible to those around me.

And then, as suddenly as those doubts had appeared, the realization of what God's grace is came upon me just as quickly. My mom read me a quote from the aforementioned book earlier in the week. Summarized it said, God's grace is not dependent on my behavior, it's based on His innate desire to bless me with His grace. He wants to bless me, regardless of my actions. Not to mention that Christ is in the business of forgiving sin, and His word told me that He had done that for me already. One of the simplest definitions I know of grace is unmerited favor. I always understood that in the context of my initial conversion experience. I didn't deserve to be saved, God saved me = grace. Also, I knew, at least in a cursory way, that He continues to forgive sin in my life. I might have been able to give the right answer about what forgiveness looks like in a conversation with one of my students, or in a sermon, but I don't think I really understood how quickly and how completely God's grace is there for me.

The moment I really started to think about His grace, specifically in regards to whether or not I would get this job, I felt my face begin to be lifted, the smile return to my face, the color return to my cheeks. I began to celebrate Holy Week more heartily. I have no idea whether or not I will get this particular job (although I believe I will); but if I don't get it, it won't be punishment for this particular poor decision I made or action I committed, nor will it be based on how qualified, knowledgeable, or experienced I am. His provision for me, His position he has in store for me, is all based on His grace. He is good... really, really good. Good I don't even understand.

Grace leads to faith, faith leads to holiness, and true transparent holiness leads us to a renewed understanding of God's amazing grace. That's what this blog will be about. I hope whoever reads this blog, the posts from its various authors, will be blessed with a more intimate understanding of our Father's grace, operate in a stronger faith, and live a life blessed by God's holiness in order to love this world in which He's placed us.

To steal a salutation from my friend Tim,

Much love from above,

Jeremy