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| Grace: This is NOT a test! |
I came across this story while in my studies and I thought I'd share it. While it's not the full length of the devotional, it's a great story depicting what grace really is and how it applies to our faith. What are your thoughts?
Denise Banderman left work early so she could have some extra, uninterrupted
study time before her final exam in a youth ministry class at the Christian college
she attended. When she got to class, everybody was doing their last-minute
studying. The teacher, Dr. Tom Hufty, came in and said he would review with
them before the test. Most of his review came right from the study guide, but
there were some things he was reviewing that Denise had never heard. When
questioned about it, he said they were in the book and they were responsible for
everything in the book. They couldn't argue with that. Finally it was time to take
the test. "Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one,” Dr. Hufty
instructed, “and I'll tell you when to start."
study time before her final exam in a youth ministry class at the Christian college
she attended. When she got to class, everybody was doing their last-minute
studying. The teacher, Dr. Tom Hufty, came in and said he would review with
them before the test. Most of his review came right from the study guide, but
there were some things he was reviewing that Denise had never heard. When
questioned about it, he said they were in the book and they were responsible for
everything in the book. They couldn't argue with that. Finally it was time to take
the test. "Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one,” Dr. Hufty
instructed, “and I'll tell you when to start."
When they turned the tests over, the students saw, to their astonishment, that
every answer on the test was filled in. Denise’s name was even written on the
exam in red ink. At the bottom of the last page Dr. Hufty had written these words:
"This is the end of the exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will
receive an A on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the
creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test
did not help you get the A. You have just experienced…grace." Dr. Hufty then
went around the room and asked each student individually, "What is your grade?
Do you deserve the grade you are receiving? How much did all your studying for
this exam help you achieve your final grade?" Then he said, "Some things you
learn from lectures, some things you learn from research, but some things you
can only learn from experience. You've just experienced grace. If you know
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your name is written down in a book, and
you had nothing to do with writing it there. That is the ultimate grace experience."
When Jesus is King, you relate to God and others gratefully. You live with God
because of grace. You serve God because of love.
because of grace. You serve God because of love.
That's awesome!
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