Is God's Grace Not Playing by the Rules?

1 Cor. 14:1 Let love be your aim (purpose) in life

"Love is like playing music, first you must learn to play by the rules and than you must forget the rules and play by the heart.'

When we play a game of sports the rules apply to everyone. Can God's kids hurt people purposely like a foul in sports, and say, "You got to forgive me brother 70 times 7?" I know someone who left their HR job because the president of the company hired his children and the rules did not apply to his kids. That was discouraging as an HR person that there are "favorites." God is not a respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 We are told that God is a respecter of faith. Faith is what pleases God. Hebrews 11:6

I got stopped three times in speed traps and I asked God for favor/grace with the police officer and I did not get any ticket just verbal warnings. I did not purposely speed. I am a lot more careful about watching my speed. Normally, on the interstate I'm very careful to follow the rules.  I know someone who died eventually due to a motorcycle accident when he was going 80 in a 35 mile zone without a helmet.  His wife told me he first got a $1,000 traffic ticket in a speeding zone.

I prayed about this, because there seems to be much more grace teaching lately.

The Old Testament we see grace with Abraham (told a half-truth to a king about Sarah just being his sister), David had consequences but he did not pay the full price of adultery and murder which was stoning, Hosea was an example of God's love when Israel went after worshiping other gods when he married Gomer--Hosea was the patient husband waiting at home while his wife was out with other lovers, and the Song of Solomon is an example of our two-way love relationship with the Lord. Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery.

I asked God and he said, "I look at the heart." The judgment we have as Christians is related directly to the thoughts and intents of our heart. God sees the heart. We are not to judge others because we don't know the motivation for which they do what they do. We can only see their actions and if it something that is spiteful or wrong, we can pray about that and ask God to take care of it. For some people we may need to break fellowship with them.

Paul said he labored more than anyone, but it was not him, it was the grace of God inside of him. Grace is not a sit around on the rear end thing -- it's getting the strength inside from God and you can do more. At times I've tried to get out the door to go somewhere and it was like everything was going wrong. I had to stop and pray and "acknowledge God" before I walked out the door - I had to slow myself down. I volunteered to bring my wave runners to a lake for a single's group and I stopped and prayed right before I left. On our way to Bloomington and Monroe Lake I saw out of the corner of my eye a woman that did not yield when I had the right away. She could have ran into my wave runners, but my sensitivity prevented a car accident. Stop and praying can cause us to be more sensitive to people and our surroundings.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 1 Cor. 4:5

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12