Resilient Joy is what I want

What Fred talks about in that we're all under grace in our identity and all in process as broken sinners truly gives hope to my life. I actually feel hope knowing that we're all a big, broken mess. This isn't a message I recall ever hearing in all my years of Christianity, all my years in the church.

In my lifetime I have gravely sinned and screwed up. I've fallen off the path and neglected the gift that is within me. I feel acutely aware of my sin and horrible-ness. if we live with the expectation that Christians are saints in the sense of moral perfection, instead of the called out ones who daily form the intent to obey and follow, then there is no room for someone like me. thankfully, in Christ none are better or worse, but all are broken. i finally can identify deeply with this. I feel like no Christian can possibly be worse than me, so it gives me SUCH relief to hear this.. cause i have such great self-condemnation.

from the City Church sermon today:

Believers share a common identity in God's grace. Is the foundation of our relations, therefore NO ONE is more righteous than another! We are all a mess, beggars who found bread. Saint doesn't mean moral perfection. The word means "called out ones". Proximity and affinity don't last. People move, people change. Rooted in grace.

We share a common mission, the work of God. Sharing in something so much bigger than ourselves.

The one who began a good work will bring it to completion (see Philippians 1:6). We are ALL in process, and God (not me) is finishing. We can be patient and free to love them. "the captives" by Michelangelo. In a spouse, are you looking for a statue when what you need is a piece of marble?? Be patient with one another because people are in process and God finishes them. We can simply LOVE them. We are free to love them where they are. Counter intuitively and counter culturally just BE with people because GOD will finish them. Those who share our pain rather than give advice touch us more deeply.

We share a common dream, and Jesus prays for our wholeness. Pray for one another like Jesus does. Write a letter to tell people you are praying for them.

Been thinking about the definition of grace. The passage that comes to mind as I dig through the numerous theological and otherwise depictions of grace is Matthew 5:43-45:

"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."

Or the stories of the servants given talents, or the prodigal son.. It's this radical concept of God giving me the opposite of what I deserve, which is admonishment at best and sudden death likely more accurately. But instead He bestows love, unconditional acceptance, delight, and pleasure. Unmerited goodness, faithfulness, affection, and concern. That's what it means to be under grace. Ridiculousness on God's part. So who cares who's sins are big, small, medium, or anything in between. ALL have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). And if you read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), you see that hatred in your mind for another consists of murder in God's perfect eyes, and suddenly you get how no one is exempt from this deserved condemnation.

So there's no point in comparing logs to specks. There is only my sin and my rebellion. My denial. And my joy that he would look on Christ with wrath and pardon me instead. Jesus, who resisted temptation to the point of sweating drops of blood. Jesus who never set down his cross in despair, shame, weariness, or desire, but he ran on, fought on, pressed on, and fulfilled his duty to the Father. It wasn't easy for him. He was human like us, suffering the same agony associated with being human and trying to live the way God commands, living in a world where sin and death predominate...