For all have sinned ... and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:23-24

If you search the party supply websites and catalogs, you will find plastic sunglasses with cut-outs for holiday celebrations. Wearers view their surroundings through pumpkins, Christmas trees, or valentine hearts.

If God owned a pair of these glasses, his would be cut in the shape of a cross. He views the world, and you and me, through the lens of the suffering, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. Instead of our sin, he sees the righteousness of our Savior.

Wouldn’t you love to have a pair of those Grace Glasses? By the power of the Holy Spirit we “have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) and see each other as redeemed and sanctified children of God. Because of God’s grace, we love, forgive, and support one another as he loves, forgives, and sustains us.

Eileen Ritter
Byron Center, MI

Help us, Lord, to love and forgive others as you have loved and forgiven us. Amen.

Reflect: Cut out a cross from a piece of heavy paper to make a bookmark.

Read: Romans 3:21-31 and Ephesians 2:8