Grace

Tonight for Family Home Evening we review a devotional given by Brad Wilcox.  Jim sent it to me a few weeks ago and I read it sometime last week or maybe the week before.  I guess it was more like a month ago that Jim sent it.  Anyway, it is a powerful message on the Savior, on the Atonement, on Grace.  I think sometimes we grow up without truly understanding the magnitude of the Atonement and what the Savior makes possible.  I am still trying to learn and understand the Atonement.  I do know that it is easy for us to beat ourselves up believing that we will never be good enough or never reach the level of righteousness that we need to in order to make it back to our Heavenly Father. We need to attain a certain level and only when we achieve that will the Savior make up the difference or fill in the gaps.  We lack an understanding of grace.  The Savior teaches that his grace is sufficient.  The Savior is the difference. 

In saying this I am not saying we do not have responsibility to learn, grow, follow, emulate.  The Lord expects us to act and to learn of Him.  We need to be anxiously engaged in a good cause.  At the same time we should not beat ourselves up because we make a mistake to the point of giving up, or thinking we are a bad person.  Brad Wilcox uses the analogy of a mom paying for piano lessons for her son.  The lessons have been paid for, the sons job is to practice, practice, practice.  He is not expected to play perfectly immediately, to perform at Carnage Hall.  If he were to screw up in a recital he would not be deemed unworthy to keep practicing.  It is the same with us.  The Savior paid the price, our job in accepting Him is to practice, practice, practice.  If we made a mistake we are not deemed unworthy to continue practicing and learning to become more like Him. 

We had a good conversation on the matter and we learned a little more about the Atonement and the love of Jesus Christ for us.  I certainly am grateful for my wonderful children and for their desire to follow the Savior.  I hope that I can be the example that I need to be for them and that we can enjoy the journey of discipleship together as we grow in the gospel.

I certainly did not do this devotional justice and would encourage you to take a closer look.  Again it is by Brad Wilcox and titled His Grace is Sufficient.   Here is the link. 

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1966


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