Grace Giving and Truth Telling - Pt. 5

 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:1-8 ESV).

 

For those who have followed Morning Devotionals for a while, you know I am a father and a grandfather. In fact you may tire of the references I so often make, especially around birthdays and such. However, my family serves as God’s greatest tool to teach me. This is particularly true as we come to today’s reading. The Apostle Paul declares the wonder of Jesus’ death on our behalf. When we were at our worst, unable to do anything for ourselves, Jesus came and lived the life we couldn’t live, and died the death we deserved. I like to think that I would readily lay down my life to save my children or grandchildren if necessary. I’m sure other parents and grandparents feel the same as I; but, am I willing to die for a friend?

 

I can think of some very good friends I have been privileged to know through the years. However, I have even more doubt about my willingness to readily die for them. It is not that they aren’t worthy candidates for such a sacrifice; I’m just not sure I am such a devoted friend. That would take a level of love beyond what I have attained.

 

It would be rare, as Romans 5 says, for a person to give up their life for someone who is good, not to mention one who is not. We have all read and heard the stories of great courage and sacrifice made on the battlefield. These people have shown “conspicuous courage” in the face of incredible danger with only 3,250 awards made since the Civil War. It is not an honorary award. In all of the stories I have read none were rooted in the same forethought and commitment as Jesus. Jesus came from the throne of heaven for just this act. It was certainly not a “spur of the moment” decision. Jesus’ self-sacrifice was the ultimate demonstration of love for others. He called his disciples friends, and he has shown all of us that he is the best of friends. Given the difficulty of Jesus’ sacrifice, I can understand why Reinhold Niebuhr called such love “the impossible possibility.” Only in Christ, the Son of God, who emptied himself to come and die in our place, is such love possible. And only through Christ can we even come close to living out the possibility of such love for others. However, that is the essence of achieving balance between grace giving and truth telling!