Grace, even for me

When was the last time you were overcome?

Were you overcome with joy? Fear? Anger? Anxiety? Hope? Excitement? Synonyms for this word are overwhelmed and overpowered. What emotion are you commonly overcome by?

Today in church we talked about Peter's denial of Christ. We saw how Peter was overcome with guilt of his own sin as he went out an wept bitterly (Luke 22:54-62). The verse that reads, "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter" (22:61a) was discussed as we tried to imagine the look on Jesus' face as His eyes met Peter's. Was it a look of anger? Disappointment? Frustration? Or was it a look of compassion? Was it a look of love? Judas, just prior to this, had betrayed the Lord. Later on we find that he, too, knew the guilt of his sin. However, his guilt led him to anguish and finally, death. Sin leads to death. Here we see Peter, also knowing the guilt of his sin. What was different? \

In that moment, Peter knew his sin and felt the grief that comes along with separation from the Lord. Sin separates us from God. In the 40some days to come he would again be called by Jesus to follow Him then speak to thousands on the day of Pentecost. This is the man who denied that he even knew Jesus.

I wonder at how the Lord worked in his heart during those weeks. I marvel that this is the man who sliced off a man's ear and was repeatedly rash with his words and actions. Why did Judas' guilt lead to suicide and Peter was the rock on which Christ built the church?

He knew grace.

He had to. Grace is being given that which we do not deserve. Grace is hard to accept, especially when you recognize just how undeserving you are of the gift. Grace transforms. Grace heals. Grace restores.

Lately I, too, have known guilt. I have felt the weight of my sin and seen character flaws and have wept at the thought that He still has so much work to do in my heart. Last night one of my dear friends here said such a simple statement that cut through my guilt: "Receive grace." That was it. She encouraged me to know that I am forgiven and move forward. While sin is a blatant act of disobedience against a Holy God and not to be taken lightly, neither is His forgiveness. He died for that.

If you have a moment, pop over to YouTube and listen to Overcome by the Digital Age. It is a powerful song of being overcome by His grace. The last verse reads, "Like a snowfall that blankets the earth, my sin has been covered. I'm overcome. The price has been paid; the war is already won. The blood of my Savior was shed. He's overcome and I'm overcome."

I don't know where you are right now. Maybe you are better at understand grace than me. But maybe you need to hear this message too. Maybe you need to hear 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Maybe you need to hear two little words today, too. Receive grace. Know His power and judgment over sin and fear the Lord, but know His forgiveness, too. Know His love for you.