Grace Greater than our Sin

October 29, 2008

I Peter 2:18-20

“You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .

“Look at the girl with the big hair and the little bitty face! What did you do to your pretty straight hair? I wondered what kind of horse was coming down the hall when I heard those steps and it’s you! Have you put on weight or do your clothes just make you look like it?” These are comments that have come my way in recent weeks and years. I do not take them as kind remarks but I would venture to guess that you too have probably been the recipient of similar sorts of comments.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .

While the slaves of Peter’s day experienced much more harsh treatment than some disrespectful or hurtful words, the message that Peter is trying to relay is applicable to us at every level of life. What he wanted the slaves of the day to understand is that we choose how we react to the abuses that others hurl at us. They could try to fight back but where would that get them? Probably it would render more pain in their directions. If they were to be challenged by others, their best bet would be to rely on their God-given conscience and ultimately to practice grace toward others. That practice of grace was a gift of salvation. They needed only to reflect on Christ to remember that grace.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .

That was the kind of grace that God gave us in Christ—grace that was greater than all our sin. Though throngs of people fought against the truth that one man sought to share—though those throngs murdered him violently—God’s grace and forgiveness were greater than any sin we humans could commit.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .

Peter exhorted the slaves that in the face of the great pain they endured, if they could practice the kind of grace characteristic of God in the face of Jesus’ death, and the kind of grace characteristic of Jesus in dealing with the slings and arrows of humanity, they would know a peace that comes in a new awareness of God.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .

What if we could practice that kind of grace in the face of the slings and arrows that humanity throws our way—no matter how harsh or hurtful? I think we might find that the derogatory comments toward us are often less commentary on us and more on the one speaking. I think we might find that we are a bit more compassionate, that our skin is tougher and that we begin to see others with God’s eyes.

May we claim the grace that is greater than all our sin and may we seek to be bearers of it! Amen.