Condemnation and judgment are not a Christians levying duty. Only God’s hands hold this enforcing power. In fact, instead of condescendingly looking down on evil doers, we are instructed to reflect and realize “there, but for the Grace of God, go I”. Simply stated, but for the Grace of God, I (and you) could be under the same fate as any (and every) fallen, unfortunate or persecuted person. Every created human being bears the label sinner. That we have escaped the dire depths of our sinful nature, we must realize is due to the gift of God’s Grace.
It is upright to proclaim God’s Grace is to be praised as our escape from the devastating situations many deserve or endure. However, too often, relief (not praise) becomes our sigh upon recognition of “there, but for the Grace of God, go I. I can’t help but wonder if this is the full, God intended, voice meant to flow from this idiom. I don’t believe so.
Man’s purpose is to praise God. Relief that we escaped a negative scenario somehow seems to lack praise. “Dodging a bullet” relief hardly exudes joyful praise. So maybe, the phrase “but for the Grace of God” has an overlooked flip side that we Christians need to embrace. Possibly, if we were to do so, the result would be to expand our praise for God and deflate our self glorification.
Let’s explore a flip side of “there, but for the Grace of God, go I”. I purpose we ponder “there, BECAUSE of the Grace of God, go I”. Application could apply to all of our accomplishments, gifts and blessings (both earned and unmerited). Might this bring home to us gratitude and praise laid at God’s feet, over self pride and over estimating our own worth?
Are any of us capable of producing success without God’s Grace — anymore than we can escape failure without God’s Grace? I don’t think so. However, I also believe that only by contemplating God’s Grace as the agent for all we positively receive, will God be praised as the source for all we are blessed to achieve or be given.
This week marks the beginning of celebrating the greatest gift we have ever been given, and one we totally have not earned — Jesus Christ’s Death and Resurrection so that we could be forgiven and redeemed. What better time is there to proclaim both sides of this idiom?
There, BUT FOR the Grace of God, go I — Good Friday: Jesus took on my sins (and yours) and died in place of me.
There, BECAUSE OF the Grace of God, go I — Easter Sunday: Jesus rose from death so I (and you) can walk through the gates of Heaven.
After sighs of relief on Good Friday for God’s saving Grace, let us praise God on Easter Sunday for His greatest gift of Grace.
“But by the Grace of God I am what I am.” 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 