grace beyond reason.

Being humbled is one of the toughest things that God can put you through.  But, (and that’s a big but), it is the one of the best things that you could ever experience. 

As a disciple, I like to think that I’m fairly “good”, i.e. Jesus is constantly on my mind and therefore I usually try to be as much like Him as I can.  Fortunately, I am not capable of being Jesus all of the time—some days even most of the time.  If I want to be like Christ every minute, I have to need Christ every minute

…which just goes back to thirsting for Him. 

I have been overwhelmed by grace this past week.  I am blessed to know some of the most loving, serving, compassionate people on this earth.  They don’t try to cover up my flaws, but rather, let Christ reveal them to me (which He certainly does, thank goodness!), and then are there for encouragement during my time of repentance and forgiveness. 

“God Himself expressed His longing for Love…like a jilted lover who, against all reason, gives his faithless beloved one more chance.”

            -Philip Yancey

His mercy is so unlike us.  I would never take back a boyfriend who was faithless.  Heck no. 

But (here I go again with the “buts”), I guess that’s why God is God and I am Kayla.  Because somebody had to love somebody unconditionally…and it sure as Heaven would not have been me.

“What does God get in return?  He gets adopted children who are petty, petulant, spoiled, demanding, argumentative, mistrusting, angry, critical, and an irritant to everyone but God…Nevertheless, our God bought us with an infinite price and intends on seeing us crowned with His very glory.”

            -Dan B. Allender

It is hard to love people who get on my nerves, who are petty, spoiled, and just irritating…but how often am I those things to other people?  Does my desire and need to be loved dwindle because I have flaws?

All of a sudden loving those who are hard to love seems like more of an urgent responsibility, rather than a dreaded task that I’ll get to eventually.  

God knew that I was going to be obnoxious, demanding, and (extremely) mistrusting…but He chose to love me anyway. 

Grace beyond reason.  Grace abundant.