I am reminded of the movie The Princess Diaries where a young high school girl discovers that she is a princess and heir to the throne. Unbeknownst to her, royalty was always her status with all of its benefits and responsibilities. Yet, throughout the movie, she must constantly choose to live like royalty and accept her position. While grace is always available to us, like this princess, we must choose to access it and live in it.
Life experiences also teach us that a status change dictates a new way of life. A new bride and groom, a college graduate, a newborn baby, a new employee, an international exchange student, and others all mark the beginning of a new life. All of these could serve as metaphors to illustrate the point that in Christ we have a new status before God; we are justified, at peace and grace abounds.
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III. Hope and Love
Yet, there is more. We hope in the glory of God and we find hope through our tribulation! Our suffering changes us and breeds hope. And “hope does not disappoint us because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”
Because we have been justified, peace, grace, hope and love are living realities in our lives. Imagine that you have a million dollars in the bank. All you have to do is use your debit card to gain access to this treasure. Instead, you ignore it and live as if the money is not there. Peace, grace, hope and love are “in our account,” yet too often we live as if they are not. As you leave today, meditate on these things: peace, grace, hope and love. Won’t you acknowledge these truths daily and abide in these life changing realities that God has given you? (Paula Fontana Qualls)
