In our society, we seem to have such a strong desire to make sure that anyone who does something bad to us, has some sort of judgement or punishment. We really just want to make sure people get what they deserve.

Am I right?

Nobody wants to see someone have good things happen to them if we feel that they have wronged us or wronged someone else. 

We are almost obsessed with this. 

Just read the news sometime.

Just listen to a random conversation.

It is all over the place. And my favorite part is everyone thinks that they are the right ones. 

It sounds like a perfect world when everyone that does something wrong to us is called out and brought to justice. 

Right?

If you aren't a follower of Christ, I don't expect you to understand or care about what I am about to say next, but I think it would improve your life if you applied this principle. 

If you are a Christ follower... stop fighting for judgement and punishment in people’s lives just because you think they deserve it!

What right do you have? 

Last I checked, we are convicted felons on our way to Hell.... but something called GRACE was shown to us. And you know what... that grace ruined everything.

That grace broke the chains that we were eternally destined for. Grace ruined the black and white version of what should be done to those who wrong us.

Grace ruined everything! 

And if you have experienced this Grace, it should change the way you give it.

The bible is full of stories of this ridiculous grace. One of my favorites is the story of Joseph (Genesis  37-50). 

Joseph was loved by his father but his older brothers were jealous of him and couldn't stand Joseph.

Joseph kept having dreams that represented his entire family bowing down to him. This was too much for his brothers so they planned on killing him.

They don't kill Joseph but they do sell him into slavery and tell their father that Joseph was killed by a wild animal.

Just that alone sounds pretty unforgivable, right?

Well, the story for Joseph get a little crazier. He finds himself in Egypt, working for Potiphar. Potiphar loves Joseph and puts him in charge of his entire house. 

Potiphar’s wife also likes Joseph and frames him after Joseph shows incredible integrity and character by not sleeping with his masters wife. 

Joseph finds himself in prison now because of the lies of this woman. Pretty unforgivable, right?

Joseph finds favor with the jailer and he puts him in charge of all the prisoners. He interprets two dreams and asked the prisoner that would be restored to Pharaoh's house, to remember him. 

After the dreams that Joseph interpreted played out exactly like he said it would, the prisoner forgot about him. He went back to work while Joseph remained in prison. Totally unforgivable, right?

A few years later the prisoner seems to remember Joseph when Pharaoh needs a dream interpreted. Long story short, Joseph interprets it and becomes the second in command in Egypt. Things are finally looking up!

Now Joseph's brothers re-enter the scene...

Joseph has so much power now and could do anything he wanted to get revenge on his brothers who absolutely wronged him.

But Joseph doesn't do that.

Come on Joseph! Seriously? You have them right where you want them!

Joseph shows the most ridiculous grace ever to the family that hated him before. 

Joseph could have brought the hammer down and no one would have judged him. They may have even nodded in approval. 

But grace ruined any "right" Joseph had to get revenge.

The same way that grace ruined your eternal destiny is the same grace that ruins your right to bring judgement on those that do wrong to you.

I know it doesn't make since!

But neither does the grace that Christ showed you!

It is an absolutely ridiculous love that Christ has shown. It is a grace that makes no since. 

That is the grace we are supposed to give to everyone.

So let’s be a generation that loves ridiculously!

A society that gives grace unconditionally!

We do this because GRACE RUINS EVERYTHING!