Remember Sticker Charts? I tried them with my kids. We had Chore Charts, Teeth Brushing Charts, and Behavior Charts. The last one got a little- well, sticky. My oldest apparently wrote the book on picking on younger siblings. My daughter learned quickly that throwing a fit drew attention to it. I was not too fond of either of those. So I bought sticker charts, where he would get a sticker for being kind to her, and she would get one for keeping calm.
Five Days of stickers meant a trip to the Dollar Store! It got off to a rocky start on Day One. Both slipped up once. I gave them the stickers anyway. My friend questioned me. I didn’t expect them to get it 100 percent right the first day I told her. So, I gave them what they didn’t deserve And not what they deserved: Mercy and Grace.
This is what God does for us. With mercy, he withholds what we deserve, the punishment for our sins. His Grace gives us what we do not have, His favor. The Bible tells us, “The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.”(Psaqlm 145:8-9)
We are his works, and even though we all fall short (Romans 3:23), when we give our hearts to Jesus, God no longer sees our sins and shortcomings. He sees his perfect Son. Only then can we enjoy the fullness of His Grace and Mercy.
IT'S A HARnDen LIFE... 