by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Grace Has the Power to Change Us

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

When I posted this picture on Instagram, one of my nephews responded by commenting, “They misspelled it. Beware of Doug.” Boy, did that hit close to home. Maybe I should have that sign hanging from my fence, stapled to my office door, and tattooed on my chest (okay, maybe not the latter).

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 3:22b-23 English Standard Version

All means all.

Everyone of us could substitute our name for dog in this sign. Beware of Joe, Sally, Frank, etc. This world is a mess, not just because of other people, but because you and I are broken too. The good things we dream about doing, we don’t, and the bad things we try to avoid, we end up doing. (Romans 7)

We hear God’s call to give to the poor and, out of fear, we buy more stuff for our consumption than what we need.

We hear God’s call to stop gossiping, and next thing we know we’ve damaged someone’s reputation by speaking hurtful things behind their back.

“…and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”
Romans 3:24 (ESV)

God changes everything. That’s what grace does. This free gift that we have received in Jesus is changing us. This change begins with the change in our relationship with God. Through Jesus we are no longer enemies of God; instead, we are his children. As children of God, the Holy Spirit is working in us, changing us on life’s journey so that people do not need to be afraid of us.

There will be times when we look at our lives and say, “Beware of Dog,” but that sign doesn’t define us. God’s love does. In his love we know that God is transforming us so that our lives are an invitation into his loving arms for others.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado