How much grace you get

We used to get tiny glasses of orange juice, IF we got any at all.  Remember the frozen can of juice you'd add to water in a larger pitcher?  

And that was for the whole family.  It seemed as if we tried to dole it out to as to make it last for a few days, so you would get what seemed to be a shot glass full of juice and that was it.  

It was like a scurvy prevention level serving of OJ.

That is how I grew up thinking about God's patience, grace, and forgiveness with us.  You get a little and that's it!  And you better not waste it or not be really appreciative of it!  

It's limited in supply and so very costly that you can only have a little so you better make it last.

Much later, as an adult, I ordered a glass of orange juice at a restaurant, thinking I'd get the familiar shot glass of juice and, to my surprise, they brought a full sized glass full of OJ - and for a moment, I was like, "Is this for the whole table to share...?"

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In Ephesians 1, Paul tells us that in Jesus, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us.

That word "lavished" is akin to how we'd say slather - you know, slather on a LOT of that Nutella or mayo or peanut butter or gravy or whatever you putting on something.  To slather isn't a nice thin layer of something - it's an abundant, generous amount that's given on purpose to be abundant and generous.

THAT is how God is with us.  And it's not just for the good church people who are "good enough to deserve it" - no, it's for everyone and anyone - in abundance and without limit.

We already have been redeemed, forgiven, and given grace.  

You have already been redeemed. 

You already have the forgiveness of sins.

You already have God's grace slathered on, richly, generously and abundantly.

You just have to take it.  Even if you don't, it's already there and available and has your name on it.

It's like a lot of money someone deposits in a bank in an account they set up for you - you either want it and go get it or you don't - it's your choice.

You don't have to go through a bunch of church people or religious stuff to get it, it's just yours.

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There's a nervous relationship between God's people who "grew up" going to church and those "in the world" who hear about the good news of God through Jesus.

Some "church people" will want to present info about God that makes you think you gotta go through them and their culture to get to God.

It completely makes sense because that's what most groups want to have happen - for you to join them and become like them in some way.

Believers from any and all backgrounds do need to get together and share and learn together - that's the way God set it up - but it doesn't have to look like some of the church or religious settings that some fear or have been injured by.

It can be people getting together for a coffee or sharing a meal together. It can be people getting together in a park or a living room. It can be people meeting online and Zooming or just interacting in other virtual ways.  God didn't make one way for it to be done.

So don't let fear of gatherings, social situations, etc keep you thinking you have to run a gauntlet of socially awkward situations to access God's grace or presence.

It's already yours.  You can find others who are like you and start meeting with them and figuring it out together with scripture, God's Spirit, etc.

Enjoy.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-3)