New Grace

It happened at Columbine, it happened in Oregon, it has happened in numerous places where ISIS is moving to take over.  People are killed because they profess a belief in Jesus Christ and possess His forgiveness and new birth.  Every time I read about it I'm in awe of the faith of those that proclaim Him no matter what. And at the same time I wonder, would I?  I pray Lord if it ever happens give me the faith and strength.


It's nothing new, it happened to the early Christians.  Look at Stephen in Acts. Acts 7: 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart *, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said , Behold , I see the heavens opened , and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying , Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down * , and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep .


Stephen was bitten and stoned but as it was happening he looked into the heavens straight into the face of Jesus.  I wonder, as the Christians in Oregon stood just before the trigger was pulled, did they see the face of Jesus?  I know after the trigger was pulled they did.  Sunday my pastor made a statement that I'd also seen on facebook last week.  The bravest person in the world was the SECOND person that proclaimed they were a Christian after seeing the first one shot.  There is a lot of truth in that.


Yet, the account of Stephen here tells us a lot.  In the Bible it is mentioned that Jesus sits on the right hand of the God the Father.  But here He is standing.  Why do we go from sitting to standing in a situation?  Because we are concerned, or we want to be fully aware of what is happening?  Or maybe He stood to be sure that Stephen got a good look at His face, as Stephen faced his death.


There is a song that I sang some years ago and while I don't remember all the words without looking them up, here are a few of them.  Grace for every trial, grace for every mile, New grace I've not needed before. 


God doesn't give us grace before we need it.  As a human, I wonder how I will react should I ever be in this situation.  As a Christian, I know that God's grace is sufficient and He gives us the grace we need. 


Today's world is wicked and we face many dangers, but the God of all comfort is with us every step of the way.  He will give us the new grace for whatever we may face.


Today since originally writing this and now, I've encounter the need for new grace.  I've said on here multiple times I'm a work in progress and I often fail.  Today, I see the failures too clearly.  I see the pain & regrets of bad choices.  I see suffering and hurt.  Today I pray for grace, from God and from others.  As undeserving as I may be, I'm looking for grace.