“Don’t make me come back there!”

When we heard these words from the front seat of our car, especially when on a family vacation, my sister and I froze. Suddenly, we were the perfect little lady and gentleman, sitting up straight, our hands folded in our laps, and our faces looking as angelic as possible.

Only moments before we had been thoroughly engaged in mutual torment. This usually culminated with me putting my back to the door and, having long legs, pushing my sister onto “her side” by pressing her firmly against her door. She would then loudly complain, “Dad! Make him stop squishing me!” And that would be the last straw.

Fortunately, being relatively smart children, we never pushed things to the point of finding out what would happen if dad actually did “come back there.” By stopping our shenanigans instantly we received his grace, time after time.

Our heavenly Father extends even greater grace toward us and our sinfulness. And our sinfulness is far more egregious than childish shenanigans.

God’s grace is always available to you when you seek Him.

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11, NLT).