THE GREATER GLORY - by Susan Fochler

I grew up with a strong feeling that there must be something wrong with who I was.  So when I was introduced to the concept of grace, it seemed too good to be true.  I have come a long way since then, but am still on a journey to more completely comprehend the fullness of the grace and mercy of God available to all of us in the new covenant.  Paul termed the new covenant of Christ the “greater glory”(2 Cor 3:8).  A glory that Jesus’ death and resurrection made possible, by paying every price required for every sin ever committed, period.  A glory that permanently opened a conduit of connection between heaven and earth to those who simply believe. In this grace we find an ever deepening knowing of how total His acceptance is and how He joyfully meets us in any place we feel weak or inadequate.  His help is ever present; and always comes with kindness, never with shame or comparison.  Jesus walked the earth, just like us, and faced every day issues just like us, but because He had complete assurance of the goodness of His Father; He was able to keep His union with Him intact.  In some wonderful, mystical way, His actions opened the door for us to have that same full, continuous access to the Father’s heart. As we’ve continued through our study of 2 Corinthians, I’m struck with how intently Paul seeks to communicate the extraordinary nature of this new covenant.  Not just an upgrade or improvement to the old way of keeping the law, but something “entirely different”.  So different that today, 2,000 years after being introduced, the grace message is still startling and revolutionary to a religious system that wants to control and limit what God might or might not do.    The only way to understand Paul’s statement that “it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me”(Gal 2:20), is by recognizing that we no longer relate to God based on following an imposed set of rules and expectations to please Him.  Instead, engrafted into His life as an entirely new creation, acceptance is complete and unconditional.  His goodness and kindness pour into us unendingly.  There is nothing left to prove as His life simply begets more life in us.  May we each be able to increasingly accept the unconditional grace and mercy that so surpasses our ability to understand, and yet, is ours to simply receive! Love, Pastor Susan