Dear SCC & Friends,
…full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14
Reflection #257
The devil doesn’t care which side of the horse you fall off, as long as you don’t stay in the saddle. You need to ride the horse with one foot in the stirrup of truth and the other in the stirrup of grace. ~Luther~ I hate to admit it, but “more than once” I’ve been right in judgment and wrong in my spirit. In other words, we are very capable of being wrong even when we know we are right. Grace and truth are two sides of the same coin. Grace without truth devolves into misplaced sympathy, masquerading as tolerance and compassion. Truth without grace breeds arrogance and legalism. All truth is God’s truth… Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it. ~Ps. 139:4-6 ~Selah~
Grace may be defined as the unmerited favor of God. Truth is that which is inherently correct at all times in all places, and is not based on conjecture, opinions or emotions. Truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. ~Os Guinness~ Grace and truth mirror each other in the fullness of the Lord. Grace without truth is “sloppy agape”… Truth without grace negates the love and compassion of the Gospel. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of grace and truth… Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. ~Jn. 17:17 His grace is sufficient at all times in all places. For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace. ~Jn. 1:16 May the Holy Spirit help us to walk in the fullness of grace and truth that we may honor God and bless those we touch. We were made for these days… Keep up the good work!
In grace and truth,
Kevin