LOVE INC OF BENTON COUNTY
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Our Partner Churches
  • Volunteer
  • What We Offer
    • Client Assistance >
      • Product Assistance
    • Community Education >
      • Redemptive Compassion Training
      • Grow Together Program
  • Give
    • Give Financially
    • Donate Items
    • Pack A Bag
  • Contact
  • NEWS
    • Love Letters Blog
    • Love INC News

The Grace And Truth Paradox

10/10/2022

 
Picture
“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

In our devotional series this fall we are zooming in on some of Jesus’ specific interactions with people to illustrate the six Redemptive Compassion principles. But for a moment, I want to zoom out and look at the life of Jesus through a wide angle lens. What characterizes Jesus’ earthly ministry? John chapter 1 gives us a clue, describing Jesus as “full of grace and truth.”

A paradox is two opposing ideas contained in the same thought, that may somehow be true together. In every moment, Jesus is full of grace and full of truth. It’s not an “either-or”; it’s a “both-and.” Sound impossible? Re-read the gospels through that lens - watch how Jesus extends both grace and truth in every single interaction. It’s stunning. A similar paradox between justice and mercy can be found throughout the Old Testament. 

As humans, we struggle to follow Jesus and partner with the Holy Spirit in places of paradox. What is grace without truth? Dependency, enablement, rescuing, resources without relationship, "anything goes" morality, etc. But what is truth without grace? Judgment, punishment, legalism, self-righteousness, exclusion, etc. Most of us tend to lean in one direction and critique the other.

I don’t know about you but I feel constantly pressured to take a side on grace vs. truth. A very real tension exists. We need to look away from the ways of the world and remember the way of Jesus that leads to true life transformation. The beauty of Love INC is serving with a ministry model designed to hold grace and truth together as we live out Redemptive Compassion.

Are there areas of your life where you struggle to live full of grace and truth? Maybe with your teenager or toddler, an aging parent, a co-worker, neighbor or someone on the street asking for help? One of my daily prayers has become: "Lord, show me what grace and truth look like in this moment..." 
 
~ Jen Hanson

Comments are closed.

    A collection of stories &
    ​DEVOTIONALS written by your love inc staff & Board


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    November 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Our Partner Churches
  • Volunteer
  • What We Offer
    • Client Assistance >
      • Product Assistance
    • Community Education >
      • Redemptive Compassion Training
      • Grow Together Program
  • Give
    • Give Financially
    • Donate Items
    • Pack A Bag
  • Contact
  • NEWS
    • Love Letters Blog
    • Love INC News