Grace AND Truth!

I grew up hearing the truth. I was also told that the “truth will set you free”. I’ve seen the truth set people free in once sense and then get them in deep trouble when the consequences come. I believe truth to be absolute and solid. It is not relevant to each particular situation. I grew up getting truth pounded into me and I, in turn, pounded it into others. Later in life, I came face to face with grace. Wow! I really hate that I lived in a “grace-less” place all those years while championing truth. I am so thankful that I learned some deep truth about grace. This morning I was reminded again about the relationship between the two. Check this out…

I love the fact that Jesus brought Grace AND Truth – not one or the other. He brought a full measure of both. Andy Stanley in his book “Deep & Wide” says that “Jesus didn’t try to balance grace and truth. He didn’t water down the law. He didn’t put a condition on grace. He gave a full dose of both.”  Truth is often misused to control and manipulate people. Jesus used grace to attract me to truth. The only people Jesus really pounded on regularly were the graceless teachers of the law and the graceless religious leaders.

I want my life to feature large doses of truth and grace. I don’t want to live out grace in the absent of truth. I want to live out truth smothered in grace. This teaching has really given me a new understanding of how Christians should others – even other struggling Christians.  I want the truth of the Word to come out of my Grace filled heart and life!