The Gospel of Grace
by Tammy Iund Woodard
Monday - 1.4.2021
Rooted. That’s the title of our new series that will take us through Jan and Feb. As I was reflecting on that word another word popped into my mind. Deeper. Don’t those words seem adjacent to each other? Rooted Deeper. I remember a story I heard one time about what fish do when a storm comes up on the water. They go deeper. When the waves at the surface are going crazy, they swim deeper, to a place that is actually peaceful under the chaos. When you go deep enough, you can’t feel the winds, the waves, the chaos that are on the surface.
In many ways, I feel 2020 taught me to go deeper. In many ways I did go deeper. I definitely went deeper in my prayer life. I strived to go deeper in my friendships. However, I want to go even deeper in 2021. I want to be so rooted in Christ Jesus so that nothing sways me. Is that what you want?
Ephesians 3:17 states, “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” I love the visual of this scripture. Roots growing down (deep) into God’s love and that will keep you strong. Love is a powerful “thing”. The sacrificial love of God is unlike anything we experience here on earth. We have some examples that come close. The example of a parent to child love. The example of a marital love. But even those aren’t the depth of sacrificial unconditional love that God the Father has for His children. I want my roots to grow down deep in the love of God. That’s the good news of the gospel.
The last few years it seems God has given me a word to focus on for that year. In 2019 my word was gather. I guess thank goodness it wasn’t my word for 2020, right? But last year I felt like God really made my word my mission and that word was COMMUNITY. Interesting in looking at all that 2020 held that God started out my year focusing on the community. The song that really moved me was by Matthew West entitled Do Something. All of the lyrics are great but the ones that really get in your face are these:
I said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, yeah, I created you”
I’m the hands and feet of God in this world. That’s a pretty cliché to embroider on a pillow but the reality is it’s the truth. I AM the hands and feet of God the Father to a lost and dying world, to my community. You know what else? People are messy. Yes they are. You start getting involved in people’s lives, you start opening up your own life and it gets messy. There is no better description- it is messy.
We ALL began the same way. I’m not talking about conception. We ALL started out created in the image of God. Then sin came into the picture and scripture states in Romans 3:23...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. When I pass judgement on people (and let’s just be honest, sometimes I do), when I don’t respond with the love of God towards others, I am forgetting Romans 12:3 (NLT) Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
You might wonder what this has to do with being rooted or going deeper. When we are rooted in the love of God we can share the gospel of grace with others. People don’t need our opinion or our advice or our judgement or even our wisdom. What people need is the gospel of grace and the love of God. That’s the formula that transforms lives. I don’t even fully understand how it works, I just know that it does. So my prayer for me and I hope for you too is this: Lord, grow my roots deeper in your love so my reach with the gospel of grace may extend even further in my community.
Call to Action
Pray and reflect on the following passages this week:
Colossians 1:1-14
Ephesians 3:17
Romans 3:23 & 12:3
Reflection:
Reflect on these questions. Consider answering them in a journal or engaging in our discussion in the Women’s Gathering Connection Facebook Group.
What does the word ROOTED or DEEPER mean to you?
What does going deeper in the love of God look like in your life? Tangible actions you can take every day.
Do you have someone in your life that you can share the gospel of grace with? If no one comes to mind, pray and ask God to put someone on your heart and in your path.
Did God give you a word or a mission for 2021?
Matthew West song - DO SOMETHING
