God’s Grace And Goodness
When we are at our worst, and in our greatest need, what is God’s posture towards us?
We need God’s grace and goodness when we are downtrodden and burdened by our brokenness and the crushing weight of our failures and fallenness.
When we are at our worst, God is at his best. When we are in our greatest need, God reached out to us and provides his grace and mercy, so that we can proceed.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee wrongly takes comfort in his self-righteousness, while the tax collector is broken.
Luke tells us, “The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” Jesus then said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14, ESV).
When we are at our lowest, God lifts us up. When we are broken and ashamed, God lifts up our head and shows us his grace filled mercy. When there is nothing right in us, God makes us just.
In our brokenness, may we experience the grace and goodness of God that we so desperately need.
In Christ alone, Robbie
A Collect For Grace: “O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
