It was one of those mornings. I thought we had plenty of time to make it to soccer, but the clock moved more quickly than expected. (As if 60 seconds actually clicks off the clock slower or faster depending on my situation. If only I had that kind of power…)
Anyway… crazy mom came out. The one who yells at her five-year-old to get out of the bathtub NOW! The one who blames her kids for running late when, really, she made choices that set them back. The one who demands instead of asks, holds a grudge instead of forgives, lashes out instead of loves. Yeah - that ungodly mom who sets an example of exactly what not to do under pressure.
I finally got everyone in the van and realized I forgot my phone. Then, when I got to the gas station to meet my husband, he wasn't there. I’ll spare you the ugly details.
If I’m honest, there are many days I don’t really think about the grace God has shown me.
I go through life grateful to have a personal relationship with Him, doing my best to love others, and marking things off my list. My need for a Savior and God’s grace get overlooked.
Then I have a crazy mom moment, and I’m reminded that “there is no one righteous, not even one,” not even me (Romans 3:10). You see, no matter how good I think I’m doing, I am a sinful being. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sure, I haven’t killed anyone, haven’t cheated on my taxes or my husband, and haven’t stolen anything, but that doesn’t leave me sinless.
Instead, it leaves me with a false sense of pride in my accomplishments and a skewed reality that tells me I’m doing all right.
In the first chapters of Romans, Paul spends some time convincing us that despite our best efforts and outward appearance, we sin. Bottom line, no exceptions. “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1: 29-32).
Notice that the sins of greed, envy, deceit, gossip, arrogance, and even disobedience to parents are all listed right alongside murder. I’m so busy crossing off the sins on the list I haven’t committed, I fail to see all those I have.
And when I fail to see my sin, I fail to see my Savior.
In those moments when I recognize and really feel my sin (after crazy-mom moments), I also feel the grace of God. We all sin—bottom line. But that’s not the end of the story. Even though, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
Our story doesn’t end with sin, it doesn’t end with failure, it doesn’t end with a balance sheet showing sin outweighing righteousness. In fact, our story never ends.
When we accept God’s grace and the gift of his Son as our Savior, we are granted an eternity praising our Redeemer. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Prayer:
Lord, please help me see my sin. So often I want to avoid it, push it aside, not think about it. But, Lord, I want to see my sin so I can see my Savior. I want to feel the grace You offer. I’m sorry for my sins and for being blind to them. Please forgive me. Please help me live my life as a redeemed daughter, showing grace to others. Thank You for loving me. Help me love Uou more every day.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
*Originally posted September 25, 2017.