LAW and GRACE
/God used a recent personal experience to teach me in a deeper way, the doctrine of Law and Grace. It lasted only moments, but the impact of it was seared into my heart.
After a great morning with the gals who’d gathered at our Myrtle Beach location to dig deeper into God’s Word, I was headed to find some lunch. Pulling off a side road I began merging my car onto busy HWY 50l traffic, entering the stream of other drivers barreling down the freeway.
It was then I was busted by the long arm of the law!
Noticing the flashing lights behind me I thought, Surely he doesn’t mean ME - after all, I’m just driving like everybody else is. The siren was the clue that it was time to pull over.
As I nervously made my way to the shoulder of the road, I whispered my “caught off guard default prayer” . . .
Lord, teach me something in this.
Looking in my rear view mirror I watched the patrolman’s authoritative approach. He patted my FBC window sticker as he asked why I was in such a hurry.
I felt locked in the vice of the law. I WAS.
I felt convicted and guilty. I WAS.
I felt helpless to exonerate myself. I WAS.
It made not one sliver of difference to him that I’d been teaching the Bible all morning, that I’d never had a ticket, and that I was a church-going gal. I’D BROKEN THE LAW.
A few minutes later I drove a couple of blocks and pulled into a parking lot to settle my nerves and examine the ticket I’d been given. There it was; my offense spelled out, along with my fine and court date. I felt horrible about the ticket, but I felt worse about telling my husband who was back home praying over this women’s retreat!
With a deep breath, I laid it all out in one quick text . . . caught speeding, ticketed, and fined.
His response came back in seconds, and I realized my Father had answered my prayer to “teach me something in this”. Through my tears I read . . .
Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. It’s ok.
That was it. No condemnation, no reprimand nor criticism.
In that moment, I caught a holy glimpse of the Authority of the Law and the Extravagance of Mercy.
Holy God, Forgiving Jesus, Loving Husband – That’s GRACE!
The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more. Romans 5:20 CSB
Recipient of Grace,
Cindi
