TODAY IS…

a wonderful day to remember that grace trumps sin.

“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.”  Romans 5:20 NLT

As one reads the Bible, and in particular, parts of the Old Testament, one can only marvel at God’s love and patience.

Just when we think people cannot act more sinfully, they do; and just when we think God cannot possibly forgive them, He does.

When God first created man, He created man without sin. It was only after Adam sinned that future humans were tainted. But in the beginning, there was no law. God gave the law after many centuries had passed to show people just how sinful they were in the hope that the law would help them to be better.

We all know that did not work out very well. We still remained separated from God, disobedient, and lost.

God sent Christ to save us and give us righteousness, eternal life, deliverance, obedience, a relationship with God, and grace.

“So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21 NLT).

Sometimes it is almost inconceivable to consider the depths of depravity, cruelty, and sinfulness to which people are willing to sink. Even more difficult to fathom is our ability to take anything that we have done and lay it at God’s feet and ask for forgiveness – and receive it.

Everyone can experience God’s grace. Chuck Colson committed criminal acts on behalf of President Richard Nixon. He went to prison for those crimes, but he used the time there to find his way to God and to ask God to help him attach meaning to his life. Mr. Colson went on to found Prison Fellowship which ministers to prisoners and works to help others transform themselves into the people God wants them to be.

He worked diligently and selflessly for 40 years until his death, but in spite of his decades of service, a national newspaper columnist, upon Colson’s death, wrote a column that disparaged his work and tried to cast doubt on its sincerity.

It is obvious that this columnist didn’t know Charles Colson, and he certainly didn’t understand God’s capacity for grace and His ability to work in the lives of those who are willing to let Him.

Don’t be that columnist.

Never despair.

No matter what you may have done, no matter what sins you have committed, God’s grace will trump your sin every time.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson