Erring on the Side of Grace
Someone does something wrong. Maybe they are a Christian and make a mistake. Maybe it is pretty bad. Maybe they really hurt you or someone else, got a DUI, or had an affair.
Or maybe you run into someone during your day that is just mean. They might say something hurtful or hateful.
Let's say that a young Christian high school girl from your church gets pregnant. Do you have a baby shower?
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col. 4:6
What do you think? Sometimes we feel that we can righteously turn away from such people. We know that what they are doing is wrong, so we can ignore, answer back, or make sure they know that what they did was wrong We tend to treat the angry, the mean, or the un-Christian the same way they are treating us. Our first reaction is anger, disappointment, or disgust. But who are we to judge?
If we have a choice of whether to be angry with someone, to show them the error of their ways, or we have a choice to be gracious and kind to those people and we don't know which way to go, we will never go wrong if we err on the side of grace.
What this means is that yes, you would have a baby shower. God loves everyone, no matter who they are or what they have done. We need to do the same. We need to show the world God's love. It is not our right to judge or teach them a lesson. Our job is to give grace and mercy as God gives grace and mercy to us.
If you ever have a question of how to react or act when you are affected by or hear about something someone has done, err on the side of grace. The reason the word err is used is because we don't want to make a mistake by reacting wrongly which would be an error or "to err". But we will never be wrong in God's eyes if we give grace and mercy, if we err on the side of grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
On Facebook someone wrote today "I'm sick of this ____ so I'm deleting everything." Is this erring on the side of grace? When a car pulls out in front of you, do you give them the benefit of the doubt or do you decide that they are terrible drivers and get angry? When the waitress at the restaurant is in a terrible mood, do you pray for her?
But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 2 Cor. 8:7
Anger is so prevalent in our world today. We could allow ourselves to be angry several times each day but if we can encourage each other, love each other, give the benefit of the doubt, and realize that everyone has problems and struggles, and err on the side of grace instead of anger and frustration, we can have a positive effect on those around us. Hopefully this attitude will show them the love of Christ and help to lead them to the one who gave His life.
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:1
Or maybe you run into someone during your day that is just mean. They might say something hurtful or hateful.
Let's say that a young Christian high school girl from your church gets pregnant. Do you have a baby shower?
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col. 4:6
What do you think? Sometimes we feel that we can righteously turn away from such people. We know that what they are doing is wrong, so we can ignore, answer back, or make sure they know that what they did was wrong We tend to treat the angry, the mean, or the un-Christian the same way they are treating us. Our first reaction is anger, disappointment, or disgust. But who are we to judge?
If we have a choice of whether to be angry with someone, to show them the error of their ways, or we have a choice to be gracious and kind to those people and we don't know which way to go, we will never go wrong if we err on the side of grace.
What this means is that yes, you would have a baby shower. God loves everyone, no matter who they are or what they have done. We need to do the same. We need to show the world God's love. It is not our right to judge or teach them a lesson. Our job is to give grace and mercy as God gives grace and mercy to us.
If you ever have a question of how to react or act when you are affected by or hear about something someone has done, err on the side of grace. The reason the word err is used is because we don't want to make a mistake by reacting wrongly which would be an error or "to err". But we will never be wrong in God's eyes if we give grace and mercy, if we err on the side of grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
On Facebook someone wrote today "I'm sick of this ____ so I'm deleting everything." Is this erring on the side of grace? When a car pulls out in front of you, do you give them the benefit of the doubt or do you decide that they are terrible drivers and get angry? When the waitress at the restaurant is in a terrible mood, do you pray for her?
But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 2 Cor. 8:7
Anger is so prevalent in our world today. We could allow ourselves to be angry several times each day but if we can encourage each other, love each other, give the benefit of the doubt, and realize that everyone has problems and struggles, and err on the side of grace instead of anger and frustration, we can have a positive effect on those around us. Hopefully this attitude will show them the love of Christ and help to lead them to the one who gave His life.
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:1
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