Lessons from Steve McNair's Memorial & Life

There are at least two things that we can learn from Steve McNair's memorial service yesterday and from his life.

One thing we can learn and know is that grace is good. Grace is powerful. Grace is God's gift of love and forgiveness to those who do not deserve it and could never earn it. I appreciated the words of McNair's pastor as quoted from The Tennessean newspaper.

Bishop Joseph W. Walker III, the Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church said these things.

"People around this world and even here now, have a tension in their spirit. What is the response of the church in a moment like this? Oh, I know that is the big elephant in the room. What says the church in a moment like this? People want to know. I stand between two places as priest and prophet — as priest to this family and ministering to them, and yet prophet to speak to the nation of what thus sayeth God. There was a woman one day caught in adultery, and the religious people brought her to Jesus. And they said to Jesus, the law says she should be stoned. Jesus knelt down and drew in the sand. He looked up and said, 'Ye without sin, cast the first stone.' They began to drop their stones, from the youngest to the oldest. And I have come to declare from the youngest to the oldest in America and over this world, it's time to have a stone-dropping service. Drop your stone."

"Next time you write about Steve McNair, drop your stone. Next time you text somebody, drop your stone. The next time you Twitter, drop your stone. Those of you in the barbershops, those of you walking the streets or on the corner, drop your stones. What I do know about this man is that he loved God. And he was just like us. Imperfect. But he knew God."

I agree with this pastor. None of us is without sin. The Bible is clear enough on that point. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." My prayer is that we would not only acknowledge the truth of v.23 of Romans 3, but that we would also acknowledge the fact of v.24 and experience the redemption that comes to those who accept the grace of Christ. Romans 3:24 "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

I hope that Steve knew God through faith in Christ and is with the Lord now. I hope his sin was paid for by the blood of Christ. I hope he did not have to pay for his sin.

The Bible makes it clear that a payment must be made for each person's sin. The cost is death. For those who submit their life to Jesus and allow him to take responsibility for their transgressions Jesus will pay for it all. His death will pay the price for sin. Jesus offers us all the gift of eternal life. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Not only will Jesus take responsibility for the sin of our life, He will also take responsibility for the direction and destiny of our life. The redemption of Christ that comes by faith gives us a place in God's family and a purpose that is bigger than our appetites. In His grace we are made new and God makes our life a masterpiece for His service. Ephesians 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

A Christian is a person that has been forgiven of sin and given a new way of life. God guides His redeemed adopted children according to His Word - the Bible. This ancient truth reminds us of what God created us to be and advises us with principles and commands of what we are to do.

The second lesson we can learn is from Steve McNair's life and it teaches us that God has provided for us a prescription for living. The commands and restrictions in Scripture are provided so that we can live free from the pain sin brings.

In that audience yesterday his wife and children were present. They will now be without a husband and father. His life was taken from him by a murderer that Steve chose to associate with. She was a woman he traveled with and who had access to him in a condo where he would be vulnerable to her and intimate with her. It was a place where his family would not be present.

God tells His children to avoid those types of relationships and situations.

Proverbs 5:1-6 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, 2that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. 3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 4but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. 6She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

What we can learn is that God gives grace and also guidance so that we can experience life to the full.