By Grace

October 4

(Luke 22:34 NIV) ““Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.””

(Colossians 1:19-23 NIV) “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, {20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. {21} Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. {22} But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- {23} if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

(Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9 NIV) “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. {8} For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.”

The first words from Jesus after He was brutally crucified were in the form of a short prayer. He prayed that His Father would forgive those who nailed him to the cross. They did not deserve mercy. They had mocked, spit on, beat, and crucified the sinless Lamb of God. They did not deserve forgiveness -- and neither do we. But that is Christ’s prayer - then and now. We all drive nails into the hands and feet of our Lord in some way. All of us sin and fall short of God’s glory -- ALL of us. There are none innocent. No one is sinless. Every sin, whether we think of it as big or small, is a spike driven through the flesh of Christ and into the blood-stained wood of the cross. Jesus took every one of those nails and yet prayed, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” That’s grace -- unsolicited, undeserved, unearned mercy. “Because of His great love for us…” Praise Him! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day