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Freedom from sin's penalty is a result of His grace, but His grace and our salvation are separated by His one ACT of forgiveness. And again, we learn in life that the grace of God that brings us freedom from sin's power is likewise separated by His many ACTS of forgiveness. I couldn't imagine grace to be so beautiful if it did not include forgiveness situated between He and me.

Forgiveness is what causes the brilliance of grace to shine. We understand grace to be God's work on our behalf. Grace is gaining something we undeserved. When God's does something that we don't deserve, that's a wonderful thing!

But there is more to grace than the Lord's unmerited work benefiting my life. You see, I can do similar things as this for others. I can engage in ministry work on behalf of others, even and especially when they don't deserve it. But, what makes the grace of Steve so inferior to the grace of God is His willing obligatory decision to forgive His undeserving recipients.

You see, if we did nothing wrong, then we could merit favor from God and He gladly grants us favor when our lives are sober, righteous and godly. However, favor turns to His grace in the face of our failure. When we fail in our walk we instead exercise fleshly alternatives to the Christ-life. But in His longsuffering nature He produces a work of grace on our behalf and simultaneously forgives us of all that unrighteousness.

Grace is His favorite tool of development on His undeserving children. That's not to say He doesn't have a tool of mercy, which holds back from doing the work for us, but finds forgiveness to overlook our transgression, holding back the consequences deserved.

As well, He will wield His tool of judgment and allow us, devoid of His work on our behalf (grace) to receive the consequences of our mistake. However, even that is enveloped by His ministry of forgiveness.

Whether God is granting us His chastening hand of judgment, His longsuffering hand of mercy or His undeserved gift of grace, each and every response is predicated upon He forgiving me. Oh, how undeserving are we of such love?!

The reason that God has obligated Himself to faithful and just forgiveness for all sin (past, present and future) is because He has chosen to eliminate one particular tool in His toolbox. That tool is His tool of punishment. When it comes to God's children, there is no such thing as punishment. His punishment for our sins (past, present and future) was paid over 2,000 years ago. That's it and that's all! No matter how much others may want to see someone punished for their wrong doing, it doesn't' come at the hand of God.

Hold on now! There may be consequences designed by God for wrongdoers. As well, we shall surely sow what we have reaped, but God doesn't punish His children. He forgave and forgives them. In grace, in mercy and even in judgment if we confess our sins He forgives our sin. Dear prophetic friend, the words faithful and just mean something!

But woe unto us, if we offer grace to others under the guise of personal ministry and fail to be forgivers of wrong. Oh, how often do we see servants of our Lord; children of God, who are forgiven for inner sins of the heart who ADminister the grace of God with bitter mediations of unforgiving remembrance.

I'm often asked questions like, "how often do we allow people to fail and still help them"? I'm often asked "how do we continue to love them after they have wronged us, so"? These questions are so ironic; for the answers are at the core of ALL of Jesus' teachings. Whether He was speaking clearly enunciated truth or speaking in uncertain parables, the answers to these questions are all over His spoken and written words.

The answer is simply to forgive, forgive, forgive! He does it and so shall we. But then, I am asked "how? How do you forgive repeat offenders?" That answer is simple. God's Grace, not mine own flawed grace. It's not me or you that does it. He does it for us. Ask God to give you grace for your work.

Part of your work on His behalf is the forgiveness of those whom you have helped but they have harmed. Over and over again, you may help and they will most often harm. But when we are in that position, the grace of God will grant us the ability to forgive.

But woe to those of us who profess we offer and represent a ministry of grace but are unwilling to meditationally forgive.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY: "Good Morning, Father! Lord, I understand that I am a repeat offender as a result of the many flaws in my nature. I understand you forgive and choose to remember no more. What a beautiful response to my wrongs. I want to be able to do the same for my children, my spouse, my leaders, my co-workers and co-laborers in the Lord. But I need your help. It is not in my nature to accept the wrongdoings of others without occasional resentment or meditations of reminders in my heart. If you will give me the grace to forgive, I know that I can catapult my ministry to a deeper level of symbolism to your Son. Please empower me to do so through yourr Spirit of Wisdom. I pray these things in the blood stained name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!"