Trying to balance truth and grace can be a big challenge. The truth shows us the standard God wants for us, but none of us will live up to that standard in this life. If we focus too much on God’s standard, we’re blinded by the shortcomings of ourselves and others and lose sight of grace. The guilt and self-righteousness that comes with this also conflicts with God’s standard, so we over-correct and focus on grace and before we know it, we’re condoning sin for the sake of grace. Sometimes this feels like trying to balance a house on a needle. So how do we do it? Simple. We don’t.

Jesus didn’t come in 50% grace and 50% truth. He came in 100% grace AND truth. They aren’t in conflict with each other. They go together. There’s no balancing act. They both stand firmly on a foundation built by His love for all of us. His love tells us the truth so we can enjoy a life filled with peace, joy, empathy and love. His love also welcomes us back into this truth when we choose to suffer from our pride, worry, and hate instead.

Our first of 50 shows was titled “Thou Shall Not Hurt Yourself”. A year ago, I heard this as threatening warning from a jealous God holding the remote control to a shock collar wrapped around my neck. Now I hear it as a plea from a loving Father who doesn’t want to watch me endure the pain (again). Experiencing that love through the Holy Spirit replaces our nature with His and shows us how to share the truth, with grace, out of the same love that doesn’t want to see others suffer.