Week of Weakness

God has been teaching me a lot about grace this week, so these lyrics to the song “Scandal of Grace” seem fitting for the occasion. They say:

"Grace, what have You done?
Murdered for me on that cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in Your blood

Too much to make sense of it all
I know that Your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace, You died in my place
So my soul will live

Oh to be like You
Give all I have just to know You
Jesus, there's no one besides You
Forever the hope in my heart

Death, where is your sting?
Your power is as dead as my sin
The cross has taught me to live
And mercy, my heart now to sing

The day and its trouble shall come
I know that Your strength is enough
The scandal of grace, You died in my place
So my soul will live"

This week I’ve been challenged by the question “What does grace actually mean?” I know that I am saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8). I know that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). But for some reason, I just could not wrap my mind around why grace was important.  But God in His faithfulness chose to meet me where I was at to answer my question.

God chose to make me aware of His grace by first making me aware of my sin. God helped me come to the realization that I am indeed guilty of sin, and that sin should’ve equaled death. I also came to the realization that I wasn’t given death. I was given a Savior. This is grace. Not getting what you deserve.

What is grace? Grace is the gospel. Grace is Jesus putting aside his status to become flesh and dwell among us. Grace is the King of Kings dining with sinners and washing the feet of Judas, who He was aware would soon betray Him. Grace hung there on that cross while I yelled, “Crucify Him!” and in response said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”

“The scandal of Grace, You died in my place so my soul will live!”