Grace...Forgiveness and this NEW THING....

sometimes when drawing close to my Daddy, He shows me brand new things.. exciting things, mind boggling things... and other times, it seems it's something "old" , knew that already ...  but then He chisels away another layer of it and "tada" : it's something brand new... 

so thinking of the story of Redemption as it unfolds throughout the Bible, I know it  is the most amazing story, a story that only our God could have come up with...

Grace, the unmerited favor granted to an undeserving mankind... extended to reconcile us with the Father, His just and holy wrath poured out on the sinless Son... debt paid, redemption for all those that believe... Grace lived out through Jesus' sacrifice to give us the one tool we need in order to be able to live a life of love and unity... live the way God intended for us to live....

Jesus, when asked which was the most important commandment said this: "The most important one is this: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength'.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” ( Mark 12: 29-31)

everyone knows that without forgiveness loving one another is a rather difficult thing to do.... that's why Jesus teaches His disciples to pray like this: 

 "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."  and then goes on to say: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." ( Matthew 6:12, 14-15)

know all this and lived it all out ... was sinned against and forgave. love instead of bitterness filled my heart and I was in awe. living through hard times, taking one step at a time all possible because He in His grace forgave me and taught me to forgive. ...

things changed since because even though through forgiveness  reconciliation was possible, restoration didn't happen necessarily .. but God knew why... 

because see.. He was doing a new thing... and that new thing was going to be so much better. a relationship that would still need forgiveness and grace to work, but this time, and that's the new and wonderful thing, we both are looking to Him, are striving to be obedient to Him... He IS the third strand, He IS the center of the relationship and that's where the blessing is. 

so love flows... continues to flow... strengthens and deepens.. It's quite amazing actually. 

To Him be all the Praise and Glory and Thanksgiving !