John 1:14
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

For the last few weeks, I find myslef meditating deeply on the concept of the combination of grace and truth. I was thinking that this is truly what Blessed Hope Community Church is built upon. It is our foundation and it is the transforming agent that continues to grow our church by changing lives for all eternity.

It was definitely this combination of grace & truth that changed everything about who I am and how I live my life. I really can't imagine that a transformation would have happened had there been only one of these ingredients given to me. It had to be both somehow and maybe it's because wherever the presence and indwelling of Jesus Christ happens to be, there has to also be the essence of who He is; and as the above scripture says; that is a fullness of grace and truth.

It's a beautiful picture really, one that unfortunately not everyone is able to grasp. I think that the truth may be easier for most people to see than the grace in which it has been given. It seems like a great challenge for us to find the balance between those two things when we share the Gospel with others. It's certainly a challenge for us as a church to preach truth with all the love and grace we know our LORD would want us to do. 

I do believe the key to doing this is to never forget our own brokenness and need for Jesus Christ. He reminds me continually of who I was before He was LORD of my life. It's a good thing because it keeps me humble and humble is exactly the best place that any of us could be in our relationship with God.

Where in your life do you need to allow the grace and truth of God to tear down walls that keep you from growing closer to Him?

And who in your life is God calling you to boldly go and share the fullness of His grace and truth?

Praying today for you to experience God's grace & truth in greater ways than you can even imagine! To Him be the glory forever and ever!