Our Sunday School class started reading through Jimmy Evans book entitile “7 Secrets of Successful Familes”. This week we got started on chapter 2, but we didn’t get very far because we started talking more about grace and truth.
I was really blown away by the Old Testament example, of the need for the balance between grace and truth, given in the Ark of the Covenant. The two pieces that God commanded Moses to build each symbolized grace and truth, respectivly. The ark was a trunk -like object that held the tablets containing the 10 Commandments, Aaron’s Rod and a jar of Manna. All of these represent the perfection of God and his eternal character and standards. The second piece of furniture was the cover, the Mercy Seat, covered in pure gold and decorated with angels. Once a year a lamb’s blood was poured over the Mercy Seat for the forgiveness of sins for the nation of Isreal.
What really impressed me the most was the plan, straight-forwardness of the trunk, which held the items symbolizing truth. Isn’t that how God’s Truth is? Plain, straight-forward, simple. In contrast to the World’s truth, flashy, complex, confusing at times.
Even more impressive to me was the beauty, time, detail, and precious metals that comprised the Mercy Seat. Isn’t that what mercy is to us? Merriam-Webster defines mercy as:
compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power.
We have surely offended God, and His mercy to us is so great, so beautiful.
So, the Lord has given us a great example of tempering grace and truth. For any successful relationship in life, wether it be marriage, parent-child relationships, or friendships, we must have grace AND truth. If our relationship with our children is all truth(rules, regulations, punishment) and no grace, where will that leave us? Probably with a rebelious child, or an estranged relationship. What about in marriage? If all we show is grace, what will happen? Will either person grow? Or will each party continue in self-indulgent behavior, because they know there will be grace extended to them. Is this how we are called to live? I think the Bible is clear. Christ said Follow me, imitate me. So, what does the Bible say about Jesus? John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Think about it, while I go break up a Lego war!