John 1:14 describes Jesus like this: "The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth." "...grace and truth..." During his earthly sojourn, Jesus had the grace to approach the woman at the well, with the truth to gently, yet directly discuss her lifestyle that needed to change. He joyfully extended grace by dining with a greedy political henchman who collected taxes for "The Man" named Zacchaeus, yet His truth penetrated Zack's heart and caused him to repent and return all he had collected that was ill-gotten. Jesus called leaders of all stripes on the carpet, yet extended compassion to those who would repent. Brutal soldiers - the muscle of the state? Forgivable. Murderers and thieves? Forgivable. Terrorists - as in Saul of Tarsus - Forgivable. Sex offenders? They too, forgivable.
No one who approached Jesus for forgiveness was rejected, but none remained as they were before. Jesus' agenda is both generous and demanding. It forgives all but demands all too. No one who truly encounters Him will remain unchanged, and whatever one's political agenda might be, a true encounter with Jesus will cause one to be less easily labeled but certainly more easily targeted - by every side,both "liberal" and "conservative"!
May we all embrace the humility to recognize our need for God's grace for ourselves as well as others and pray for the courage to apply His truth to our own lives.
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Joshua 5:13-14
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