Alarming Grace

Sometimes God gives me some really great opportunities to live out what I talk about on this blog.  Usually, He sends a gentle reminder that everything I write is meant not just as a lesson for you but also as a lesson for me. . . those reminders usually come in the form of embarrassing and humbling situations.

Is that how God works these things out for you?

Well, on Monday I set the alarm off at church.  It was a gloriously ridiculous moment when I typed in my code and then completely forgot which button to push (I was looking for an "enter" button. . . I was supposed to push the "off" button. . . ).  Have you ever been in a situation like that?  Typically, my response is to completely freak out and become incapable of thinking a single rational thought.  Its very helpful.

Thankfully I did get the alarm off.  I felt quite relieved and maybe a little proud of myself for figuring it out.

Until 20 minutes later, when one of our elders walked into the youth room and asked who set the alarm off.  It was then that I realized that turning the alarm off is helpful, but not the only necessary step.  Once you turn the alarm off you have to go down to the office and answer the phone when the security company calls so that they know you aren't a thief or something. . . I didn't do that, of course, so the security people had to call an elder, who had to drive all the way to church and make sure I wasn't a thief.

I tell ya, it doesn't take much for me to feel like a complete heel.  That pretty much did it.

I was feeling so bad, in fact, that I had to literally choke back the tears while I finished my piano lesson.  I had messed up, done something stupid, and as a result completely ruined another person's night (well, that was my perspective in it at least. . . he didn't exactly say that).

And then the moment came when God spoke right into my embarrassment.  I mentioned how awful I was feeling to one of my piano students, and he looked right up at me and said, "Everyone makes mistakes."

Wow.

Why is it so easy for me to tell you that its ok to make mistakes, that having a dirty car is nothing to be ashamed about, but then so hard for me to believe the same is true for me?

You can come to Jesus just as you are, knowing that He died for you while you were a sinner - but I had better be perfect, because nothing less than perfect works for me. . . Ugh.

I have some shocking news for some of you.  Ready?

I'm a sinner, too.

Setting off the alarm at church wasn't a sin (well, maybe in the elder's perspective it was), but there are plenty of areas in my life where I still struggle to make the right choices.  I am so completely dependent on the forgiveness and grace that is offered through Christ Jesus.  I am desperate for the power of the Spirit to be at work in me, granting me the strength, courage, and discipline to walk like Jesus walked. . . to be like him.

We're in this thing together, you know.  So don't think for one second that I have it all together - but like it says up in the tagline under this blog's title, I am running after Jesus, and I am daily reaching out for him.

Lets run together! 

And then the next time I set off the alarm at church we can have a good giggle and remind ourselves that even when we mess things up and make mistakes - no matter what - Jesus is daily reaching out for us. . .

What glorious and beautiful news. . .

You could maybe even call it alarming grace. . . yes?