“Weak Christians look more on their sins than on their graces; yet God looks on their graces and overlooks their sins and infirmities. The Holy Ghost said, ‘Ye have heard of the patience of Job.’ He might also have said, ‘Ye have heard of the impatience of Job,’ but God reckons his people not by what is bad in them, but by what is good in them. Mention is made of Rahab’s entertainment of the spies, but no mention is made that she told a lie when she did so. That which was well done was mentioned to her praise, and what was amiss, is buried in silence, or, at least, is not recorded against her and charged upon her. He who drew the picture of Alexander, with his scar on his face, drew him with his finger on his scar. God lays the finger of mercy upon the scars of our sins. O it is good serving such a master, who is ready to reward the good we do, and is ready to forgive and pass by what is amiss. Therefore, you who have but little grace, yet remember that God will have his eye on that little grace. He will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.” –Christopher Love quoted in Men Ahead by Timothy M. Shorey
“God reckons his people not by what is bad in them, but by what is good in them”
In Hebrews Chapter 11, God’s Hall of Faith, he records his people’s victories while mentioning none of their failures. He praises Noah for fearing him and building the Ark, yet overlooks the time Noah got tanked and lay naked in his tent. God extols Abraham for leaving home in faith, yet fails to mention how he deceived Pharaoh to save his skin. God underlines Sarah’s faith to receive the power to conceive in old age, but ignores her unbelieving guffaw when she first heard God’s promise.
God highlights Jacob’s faith to bless Joseph’s sons on his deathbed, yet omits how Jacob deceived his father and ripped off his brother’s inheritance. God commends Moses’ faith to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, but is silent about his murder of an Egyptian in cold blood. David, too, makes the hero list, with no mention of his adultery with Bathsheba or murder of her husband.
But the most surprising name in the Hall of Faith is Sampson. Samson! He married a Philistine, entered a forbidden vineyard (NU 6.3-4), defiled himself by touching a carcass (NU 6.6), and visited a prostitute. But none of these failures are mentioned. He’s listed as a hero of faith.
How can God focus on the “little” grace in our lives and bury our vast failures? Because Christ atoned for all his people’s sins, removing them as far as east is from west. God plunged them into the sea of Christ’s blood and brings them up no more.
Therefore, you who have but little grace, yet remember that God will have his eye on that little grace.
photo by yersinia
Mark, thanks for your post.
How amazing is the way God sees me.
He focuses on the grace He gives more than all the sins I do every day …
All because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us …
So transforming when we live with it in our every day life !
Galephico,
Isn’t grace amazing? Thanks for your comment.
How humbling! Oh that I would extend that kind of grace to others!! Thanks for this post Mark.
This is such an encouraging post. I’ve gone through a few trials over the last few weeks, and the Lord has just been teaching me, “Embrace how weak you are, because the weaker you are, the more My power is displayed in you (a la 2 Corinthians 12:9).” In the same way, the Lord asks us to cling to that grace, because that’s what He’s going to look at. In spite of huge weakness or huge failure, the Lord’s power and faith to overlook our sins is all that matters.
Leslie,
I so need to grow in this too.
Rachel,
You are so right about embracing weakness. I too need to embrace my weaknesses instead of being discouraged about them. Great reminder.
Hey there Mark!
I’m always amazed at how the Lord uses your postings to speak into my life His glorious truth!
I so need to remember His grace towards me, especially in the times when I sin and blow it big time. My wife and I were just talking about this very thing and how it’s so easy to focus on the sin in someone’s life, (especially teenagers…God’s tool for sanctification!) and neglect the positive things that they do.
I’m so thankful that God delights to show us his mercy and chooses to overlook all of my sin because of His son, amazing to think that when our Father looks at us He sees Christ yet so often when we look at ourselves we see all of the sin and failures, I pray that God would open our eyes so that we see ourselves and others through the lens of the glorious and wonderful gospel!
Thank you again for a very timely and encouraging post, I’m thankful for you brother!
Blessings,
Ron Reffett
Hey Ron,
Thank you for your constant encouragement. I think this is a real challenge for lots of us – myself included. I too really need to grow in seeing God’s grace others’ lives, especially my kids. Thank you for your great and humble comments.
Mark