God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

 

Imagine that you’re an exhausted mother at home with two toddlers and a newborn baby. After little sleep most nights, you wake up to a messy house and piles of dirty laundry. Your days are weary blurs caring for little people as best you can.  You usually make dinner, but one day your husband comes home to no dinner, children crying, the home a mess, and you on the brink of tears. Now this is a man who doesn’t take excuses. He looks at the results! So, he yells at you, pointing out all your mistakes and all the ways you’re not measuring up. 

Horrible, you say? Yet, many people think of God in this way. 

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to offer us mercy and grace. The picture of Jesus’s love is like that of a husband, who comes home to the same lack of dinner, crying children, messy house, and tearful wife. But His reaction is one of extravagant love: “Thank you so much for even thinking of trying to make dinner after the exhausting day you’ve had! You’re beautiful! Let me hug you and these wonderful children! Sit down and rest while I help clean up!” 

Yes, God has standards of righteousness. The Bible says, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).

You can stop trying to earn God’s favor and ask for His grace today.