Grace and mercy are the thread that holds the tapestry of scripture together. Make no mistake however: grace, as freely as it is given, must also be accepted.

Imagine you received a trust fund tied to a will. In order to access the money, a certain requirement must be met. I’m not saying heaven has a lot in common with Brewster’s Millions but in this one thing it might. God doesn’t ask for much from us, certainly nothing that is beyond our capacity to do or understand, but what He does ask He fully intends.

“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?”

Ezekiel 18:24-29

Let us understand our own role in our relationship to God. Not one of blind obedience, as slavish machines but of respectful children, trusting in the higher knowledge of our Father. Not willfully disobedient but mindful of his guidance, always reflecting a posture of grace and thankfulness.

Ethan Kirl

Originally published May 4, 2020