God’s Grace > My SinSample

Grace is more than a Girl’s Name

You know, grace is more than just a girl's name. Guys and girls alike need grace. But what exactly is it? The following true story gives a small glimpse of what grace is about. 

It was football season, and the 8th grade locker room had been trashed at Cross Timbers Middle School!  Who did it?—the boys on the football team!!  Dirty clothes, trash and food wrappers were everywhere.  The coaches determined it was a good time to teach the team a lesson they would never forget!  So, the coaches had all 50 players sit in a line on the floor of the gym.  “Oh, great,” the boys thought, “I’ll bet they’ll make us run ‘til we’re sick!”

And then something unexpected happened.  While watching, the stunned players saw their coaches begin to run the length of the court.  The coaches had instructed the boys that for each lap they completed, one player must stand—one boy at a time—until the coaches had run a lap for each of the 50 team members!  Over and over the coaches ran up and down the gym floor.  Up and back they ran, exhausted, until 50 laps were completed and all the players were now standing!

Gasping for air, about to collapse and looking at their bewildered team, the coaches stopped. Coach Lentz, the head football coach, barely able to breathe, spoke for them all, “You trashed the locker room, but we took the punishment you all deserved, and that, boys, is what we call, ‘grace’!”

Grace is more than just a girl’s name! And to say it again, guys and girls all need grace.  Grace is the ultimate act of kindness.  Grace is when someone is compassionate and does something good and kind for you when you don’t deserve it. For example, in His love and compassion, Jesus took the punishment for your sins when He died on the cross so you could have forgiveness and eternal life with Him.   God’s Grace > My Sin! 

Think about it:

1. Should the coaches have taken the players’ punishment by running the laps for them?
2. Do you think the boys on the team are more likely, or less likely to trash the locker room again? 
3. Who needs to receive grace from you today? Who is that person that has recently hurt your feelings or harmed you in anyway? 

Today is a great day to extend grace  because God’s Grace > My Sin!