Law or Grace?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:38 (NIV)

I know some people think that all God has to offer us is a set of laws, but when you really know how much He has done for us, the scale weighs much heavier on the side of grace than legalism. I never understood grace until I was an adult. For some reason, growing up I thought it was all about being perfect and proving my worth to God. When it finally dawned on me that I could never be good enough, I walked away for a while. It was just too hard to follow the rules. Then, I got so miserable, I finally listened to a friend’s message about grace. Someone smarter than I defined it as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, but what grace means is that God’s love and mercy is a gift, given with no strings attached. No matter how much I try, I am a sinner. So, are you. But, God loves us anyway and sent His Son to die in our place so that we might be cleansed from our sin and go to heaven when we die. That brings me back to the law. When Christ came, He threw out the law which we could never attain anyway. As some have said, the law was simply the schoolmaster to show us that we are failures at living life as we should and we cannot attain Heaven without God’s help. It was also given by God to restrain humans who when hurt instinctively want to seek revenge. The original Hebrew law set up something like payment schedules. If you poke out my eye, then I can’t cut off your head, I can only remove your eye. Jesus said something radical, however, “You are free from the law. It will not save you. Instead do right, act as a servant and extend the grace that you have been given to others.” We obey not because we have to, but because He loves us so much we want to please Him. Still, there are a lot of Christians who have judgmental attitudes and who live to follow the rules. Sometimes, I still have the urge to follow the law, too. Today, our church resumed Sunday night services. I should have been there. After all, I complained when they stopped. I should have supported the new program. After all, they were having the communion tonight. But, I wasn’t. Some might say I was a bad person because I stayed home. Well, at least they thought I stayed home. Instead, I fixed and delivered meals for three families. A friend has shingles and is very ill. Another stayed up all night with her colicky grandbaby. Still a third is pregnant and will have a C-section this week. Tonight, I went the extra mile, extended mercy and love in Christ’s name. Some might condemn me for missing the Lord’s Supper tonight. But, I think Jesus appreciated some chicken casserole and pie given in His name just as well.