The copier at Trinity Methodist Church is named “Grace.” She is a busy girl. Printing church newsletters, bulletins, posters, letters, reports, and the miscellaneous Sunday school handout. She prints in color. She collates. She staples. She prints various sizes of paper. She also lies!
There is a moment in every office worker’s life when they stare at a blinking printer screen that boldly declares, “Paper Jam in Tray 2”—even though Tray 2 is empty, pristine, and untouched. You open the compartment, check every roller, and still the printer insists, “Paper Jam.” You sigh, mutter something unholy under your breath and wonder if church office machines can be possessed.
Welcome to the modern workplace, where technology lies, coffee spills, and emails are sent to the wrong “John.” But what if these everyday mishaps were just annoyances? What if they are subtle reminders of a deeper truth—of God’s mercy and forgiveness in the midst of our human error?
Let’s start with the class: knocking over your coffee just minutes before a big meeting. The puddle spreads across your desk like a slow-motion disaster movie. Important papers are soaked, your keyboard is sticky, and your nerves are frayed. You feel foolish, clumsy, and frustrated.
But then a coworker walks by, grabs paper towels and helps you clean up. No judgment. Just grace.
This is mercy in motion. Just as we make messes in life—through poor decisions, careless words, or selfish actions—God doesn’t stand over us wagging a finger. He kneels beside us, offering help, restoration, and a fresh start. The Psalmist reminded us, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” Even when we spill, he stays.
Our printer, Grace, lied to the Membership Secretary. She was printing a report for me, and it is a very large report. The printer sent her a message that the report could not be printed. She hit the button twice and the same response appeared on her computer screen. She walked down the hall to look Grace in the face and there on the printer tray were both reports.
I guess Grace just wanted some personal attention.
Jesus’ message was consistent, the expectation for His followers is righteousness. We are to live rightly related to God and rightly related to fellow human beings. In this task, we all fail. In essence, we lie!
The remedy for our sins, past, present and future is the grace of Jesus Christ. It is a costly grace paid by Jesus’ death on the cross. It is a free grace given to those who seek that grace through faith.
The words are still true.
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”
No lie!