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Entries in truth (2)

What God Has Joined . . .

DateThursday, January 22, 2015 at 12:03PM

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Before time began, grace and truth were joined in Jesus Christ. What God has joined, let no man separate—the problem is, we keep trying to do just that.

We somehow believe grace and truth stand in opposition to one another; that truth is hard and cold; that grace is soft and shallow, but somehow not really the truth. We are wrong: grace is no more opposed to truth than Jesus is opposed to the Father.

We talk about finding a balance between grace and truth the same way we talk about balancing calories and exercise, unaware that one fuels the other. Grace loves truth, and truth welcomes grace.

Grace speaks the truth without a hint of judgment, confident that the truth sets us free. Grace is the medium of truth: if you change the medium, and you change the very message itself. Grace offers truth the way a guide offers to show the way. Grace rejoices in the truth.

Truth delights in grace because truth is made full only in grace. Truth is robed in grace—and truth would never show herself indecent. Truth speaks but one language: grace.

There is no glory in truth alone, nor is their glory in grace apart from truth. Together as one, grace and truth are the stuff of glory, and this world has seen to little glory. We saw such glory once, and we tried to tear it apart. But our everlasting good the glory was resurrected. Resurrection is truth. Resurrection is grace. To walk in newness of life is to walk as one with grace and truth.

AuthorRay Hollenbach | CommentPost a Comment |
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Monday's Meditation: Jesus the Know-it-All

DateMonday, July 25, 2011 at 09:43AM

Consider the burden of the know-it-all: he must sit and listen to the mistakes of others: their opinions un-informed, filled with swiss cheese logic and day-old data. Above all, what he cannot understand is that, after he’s explained everything so clearly, no one wants to listen. Apparently not everyone cares about being right.
When the know-it-all meditates on the life of Jesus, he is filled with wonder at how Jesus could put up with so many idiots. Unless, of course, Jesus had a secret weapon:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
If ever there was someone with a rightful claim to the title, Know-it-All, it was Jesus. Yet clearly, Jesus declined the honor. Turns out being right is not enough. Truth, meet grace.
Grace is love made practical. Grace empowers. Grace cares not for the argument, but for the people arguing. Grace has an agenda beyond the truth. Grace knows that the frustrated heart would rather sit on the sidelines and be wrong than be forced to run with the schoolyard bullies who are right. Grace turns its nose up at winning the fight and aims instead to win the person. Grace plays the long game.
Grace understands that merely knowing the truth is a slippery slope. The problem with knowing it all is the tendency to judgment. Even a smartie like the Apostle Paul recognized, "knowledge puffs up." It’s so easy to wander across the border between truth and disdain, to pity the fools who cannot see what is so clearly true. Before we know it we have crossed into enemy territory, even though we were right all along.
Sometimes the most insightful people appear uncaring and cold, like an oncologist who diagnoses the cancer but misses the human being standing before him. Insight is never enough. The line between insight and judgment is drawn by grace.
This week’s meditation can be applied again and again in the gospel accounts: Jesus was always the smartest guy in the room, but he was also the most gracious. As you bring the gospel scenes to your imagination this week, add one more ingredient to your musing: Jesus embodied what he read in the Psalms:
I will listen to what God the Lord says;
   he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
   but let them not turn to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
   that his glory may dwell in our land.
 Love and faithfulness meet together;
   righteousness and peace kiss each other.

AuthorRay Hollenbach | Comment4 Comments |
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