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Refreshment in Refuge
by Gina Burgess
Something I had not thought about before is those wicked kings that show up in Jesus’ lineage. Matthew Henry points out that grace does not run in the blood. Here’s what he says:
Some observe what a mixture there was of good and bad in the succession of these kings; as for instance (Matthew 1:7-8), wicked Roboam begat wicked Abia; wicked Abia begat good Asa; good Asa begat good Josaphat; good Josaphat begat wicked Joram. Grace does not run in the blood, neither does reigning sin. God's grace is his own, and he gives or withholds it as he pleases.
Often time we think because of who our father is or who our mother is that gives us a hall pass to do as we please. Some of that is ego, but most of it comes from a false belief of entitlement. That respect paid to the “great” person in our life has a tendency to bleed down (or over) to us, but it truly is because of nothing we have done.
By the same token, that respect and love given to us as a believer in Christ from other believers in Christ first comes because Jesus commanded it, then as relationships blossom, that trust and respect comes to us because of who we are in Christ, how we relate to others, and even our return of respect and love.
Then, because we are humans and fallible, something goes wrong, tension rises, anger flares, feelings are hurt and we suddenly withdraw our trust of the other believer. We steer clear of him or her. We hold grudges. We might hold back gossiping about it, and feel very pious about it. When all the time Jesus is saying, “Forgive, love, because that is the only way the world knows Who I AM!”
Grace.
Just as God delivers grace to those whom He will so, too, should we. Who are we to withhold grace from our brothers and sisters in Christ when the ultimate forgiveness and love was poured out from Heaven to the cross and swept the world?
Grace does not run in the bloodlines, but is a definite choice. There are we happy. That is a two-way heart throb that God pours out from Heaven directly into our hearts if we open them up to it. We sing the song, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord. My question is, how can He if we lock the doors of our heart and keep them embedded in stone?
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Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.
She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.
If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon
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