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Richness in Christ

Words That Burn in My Heart

Riches in Christ and the Journey into Grace

Grace: The Kindness of God toward man.

We said earlier that if we handle marriage well, we'll handle community and Kingdom well. One of the truths of life is that the manner in which we live out the marriage relationship can establish a pattern for handling the rest of life. If we bail out on the "tough stuff" of marriage, we'll be prone to bail out of other tough stuff, as well. Bailing out keeps community and Kingdom from happening, and can greatly diminish our journey into richness in Christ.

Some marriages succeed gloriously. Some try, and fail. Others try, fail, try a second time and finally break through all the bondages that keep "greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend" from happening.

Barb and I are a second-marriage. All that looked good on the outside in our previous marriages turned out to have some hollowness on the inside-first in the people, then in the couples. Life got "off track". Things were not handled well; things that denied God's Holy Spirit full expression. As a second-marriage couple we have occasionally experienced disapproval from some, even closed doors to ministry. For a rare few we are the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus for judgment, ad it seems that in almost every crowd there are those who can hardly wait to throw stones.

But that's where Grace steps in. Grace, as in Jesus. Grace, as in the kindness of God toward fallen people. Grace, as in Jesus the only person present who was qualified to throw a stone but didn't. Jesus simply said that he wasn't condemning us, just don't let it happen again. Then he invited us to resume the journey with him. That's richness.

Now in our 23rd year of marriage Jesus Christ is the center of our lives, we are people redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, and we are committed to community and Kingdom and richness in our marriage whatever the cost. We're back on the journey.

On July 8, 1994, I wrote out My Pledge, signed and dated it, had it matted and framed and gave it to Barb for a birthday present. The pledge is this: "I, Chuck, pledge to love you Barb as Christ loved the Church and will lovingly give myself for you should the need ever arise."

Interestingly enough, that kind of commitment and richness impacts every area of our lives, every relationship we encounter, and the Kingdom of God at large. How? In January of 2002 Barb and I together wrote out, signed and dated a commitment to God: "Heavenly Father, we are committed to you in the fulfilling of the Great Commission and offer our lives up to you whatever the cost." Jesus' grace and richness toward us now results in his grace and richness being expressed through us to others.

Examples: The journey since 2002 has involved two major cancer surgeries for me (I am now cancer free, praise God!) in which Barb was beside me every step of the way. The mission endeavor Christ's Servants to the Nations was founded, we lead a simple church ministry that reaches people of all ages who would never know Jesus if they had to go through the doors of a traditional church to do so (that's part of his grace toward them), the number of such churches is well on the way towards 1,000, we totally trust the Lord for our income and there is always some to share with others.

In addition to the above, Barb is director of a life-affirming crisis pregnancy center, and I am a hospice chaplain. In all the above, we both have ample opportunities to share the gospel with people who are open to receiving it. In short, Jesus' ministry of kindness and grace through us has never been more far-reaching, effective and fulfilling than it is today, and it just keeps growing.

The NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible describes grace as "The Kindness of God towards men". There is not a description or category of God's grace that we have not received. We are very much aware that we are recipients of "unmerited favor". Barb and I are just tremendously blessed.

When we ask, as David did, "Who are we that you should bless us?" the only thing we can do is to look back and see that the journey into grace and richness was preceded by another journey-- a journey into intimacy.