When the law came into the picture, sin grew and grew; but wherever sin grew and spread, God’s grace was there in fuller, greater measure. No matter how much sin crept in, there was always more grace. Romans 5:20 Voice
Years ago I was listening to Dr. Kevin Leman speaking about raising children. He began with a true story that he and his wife threw a birthday party for one of their grandchildren. They had the children gather on the front lawn to wait for instructions before going into the back yard for the party. He began by welcoming the children, then saying “please don’t spit in our flower beds”. Then went on to tell them about all the games and jumping house were in the backyard, then reminded them again, not to spit into the flower beds. He told them there was food and cake as much as they wanted and one last time told them not to spit into the flowerbeds. Then he told them to go and have fun!
Little did the children know they were being set up, see he had a camera in the front window to video the flowerbeds. Sure enough every kid came back to the front yard and spit in the flowerbeds, two of them did it twice! Why did they do that? Because they were reminded not to spit into the flowerbeds, they never would have thought of that on their own, but the seed was planted in their minds. Having full access to all the food and fun at the party wasn’t destracting enough for them to forget about spitting in the flowerbeds. To stop thinking about it, they went and did it!
I know you were probably laughing while you were reading that. You should have heard Dr. Leman chuckling while he was recounting the story. The truth is we’re like these children. When we have a law mindset, we begin to sin more, because it’s, well as the song says, always on my mind. We need to remember we are influenced by what we see and hear, especially the negative things we hear repeatedly, true or not. We need to be careful what we expose ourselves and other to. The Word of God is powerful and overcoming. Notice in today’s Scripture we are reminded that the only thing greater than the Law and sin is God’s grace. Grace is the great healer and uniter, when God’s grace is shown consitently, it’s like a drip of constant water on something hard, it eventually wears it down and breaks through it. Grace is the great equalizer, it dispells hate, anger, resentment, bitterness, jealousy and strife, just to name a few.
Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord have experienced the grace of God in their lives. It should be our calling, joy and pleasure to extend that grace to others, remembering that we don’t deserve the grace we are given, but God gives it to us anyway, because He loves us so much. Let’s take this year to extend grace in a fuller and greater measure especially to those we might not feel deserve it. In so doing, we will become more like Jesus and by influence and change the world by His Holy Spirit working in us.
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