An Amazing Thing

Yesterday, I did something stupid and sinful. I made a joke about my wife in front of some friends. I didn't intend to degrade her, but that's exactly what I did. In doing so, I made a few laughs more important than her honor.

It was a mistake that tasted particularly bad as we left our friends. It had been such a good night--with our friends, yes, but even more with her. We had joined together in rich conversation with others, prayer, meditation on God's Word, and spiritual fellowship. It would have seemingly been a flawless night. Then, I ended it badly.

And that is something we are all familiar with isn't it? Just when we think nothing can go wrong, all our cards come toppling down. We all know the painful truth that somewhere along the line, we'll mess up. More than this, the Scripture reveals that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We are imperfect, and truer still, we are deeply sinful. Long before I put my lovely wife down with that careless word, something was already brewing in my heart. In social settings, I often find that my first concern becomes boosting my image, saying the right things to sound wise, looking cool and collected, and being liked by others. And so what follows is that my ego is more important than other people, even my own wife. The stupid comment out of my mouth originated from the sin in my heart.

Now, don't think I'm writing this because I like to tell all my thoughts to the world. I normally want people to think better of me--so I don't tell them what I'm really like. In this case, however, the Holy Spirit has gracefully allowed me to share this with you. And I'm thankful, because it's important for you to be reminded that, indeed, we are all sinners, and we all need grace. Not one of us attains to righteousness, no matter how good we think we look before others. There is only one that has, Jesus Christ, the Righteous. By his sinless, perfect life, righteousness is accounted to us, so that we are not punished for our sin. By his death, he took that punishment upon himself (Isaiah 53:6). This is grace. It is only by grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8).

Thanks to grace, not only are we forgiven, but we are enabled to forgive others. My wife, my dear wife, knows all about this. I know because of how great her forgiveness towards me. Praise God for a gracious wife. If you were to ask me why I hold her so tight at night, it's because she is gracious, not quarrelsome (Proverbs 21:9). I deserved a quarrel from her yesterday, but she gave me grace! Well, now I come to the point. To know her grace is such a sweet thing. And I tell you, if you will accept it, God's grace is even sweeter. Take heart in the fact that Jesus Christ has absorbed all your stupidity, all your imperfections, and all your outright and high-handed sinfulness. In doing this, you will know more freedom than the delusions self-help can ever offer. It is only in Christ's grace that a person is truly free--free from the mastery of a performance-driven life, and free from the mastery of sin: "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

Rachael, thank you for helping me realize this more and more by your daily practice of grace. It is an amazing thing to know.