Some days its tough for me as I struggle with my failures. I say to myself, “can’t you get your act together?!”
It’s these days when the Bible seems particularly encouraging. Not because of the message about God (which is encouraging). But because the Disciples were so dense!
They may have spent years with Jesus, but certain things took them a long time to grasp. Even in the opening of Acts we see the Disciples still not getting it. They had witnessed Jesus return from the dead. They had seen him perform countless miracles. And what’s one of the first questions they ask to a resurrected Jesus?
“When are you going to kick some Roman ass?”
Ok, so maybe that’s my paraphrase. But the point is, despite all of Jesus’ teachings on love and mercy, they still thought the Messiah would lead a military victory. They still thought he would change their current situation, not revolutionize it.
If the Disciples messed up, and God gave them grace, maybe I should accept that same grace…
Thanks for the edification and sharing your own struggles with us, I needed the reminder (kick in the rear/reality check) that I’m not at it alone, not the only one that stumbles.
I think what makes it difficult at times to reconcile the concept of God’s grace is that we tend to view it from our own perspective, with our limitations on just how much we will/can forgive, versus from God’s POV.
Glad to see the comments open.
Grace and peace be with you.
Ack! Foiled by the 2.5 upgrade! Perhaps I’ll let these comments go for a while and see what happens. Or perhaps not.
It’s so very easy to feel like we need to be perfect “or else”. Especially because, as you say, we have a limited perspective.
But that’s just one of the things that makes God, well, God.
See. I’m subscribed!
Yea. And look at those yahoos in the old testament. If they don’t make you feel superior, I don’t know what will!