His Grace Reaches Me!

Fiorello LaGuardia was the mayor on New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and World War II. He was known as a man of colorful character. He would take orphanages to baseball games and, when the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the funnies out of past newspapers to children that were listening.

It was a bitterly cold night, January 1935. Mayor LaGuardia went to a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a worn out, beaten down elderly lady was brought before him, charged with the crime of stealing a loaf of bread. She spoke in a shaky voice, telling Mayor LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick and her grandchildren were starving. The storekeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges! "It's a bad neighborhood, your Honor." the storekeeper spoke. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson!"

LaGuardia turned to the woman and said, "I have to be just and punish you! The law makes no exceptions - $10 or 10 days in jail!" The mayor stood up, reached into his pocket, took out $10 and placed it into his famous worn sombrero. "Here is your fine which I now remit! Furthermore, I am going to fine everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat! Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant!" The following day, the New York City newspaper reported $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread.

Does this remind you of something? It reminds me of God's grace toward mankind. We are in debt and have chrages brought against us (Rom. 6:23). God is just and righteous and His righteousness will not allow any sins overlooked. They must be punished and we committed the sins. God reached deep within His heart and sent His Son on a death mission, our death mission and paid our sentence (I Pet. 1:18-19).

Jesus demonstrated the grace of God and His love for us (Rom. 5:8-11). We did not earn one single thing. We just responded by faith by being buried with Him in baptism and raised in newness of life (Col. 2:12).

His grace, His love should affect us to the deepest parts of our being. We should be a reflection of His grace and show thankfulness in the way we live our lives each and every day (Titus 2:11-14). His grace reaches me and our attitudes and actions show to what extent we have been touched by His grace!