A Brief Moment of Grace

From this morning's One Year Bible reading (New Living Translation - which is new to me):

“O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens. ⁷ From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin. That is why we and our kings and our priests have been at the mercy of the pagan kings of the land. We have been killed, captured, robbed, and disgraced, just as we are today.

⁸ “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery. ⁹ For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery.

- Ezra 9:6-9a

This really struck me this morning.  It's referring to Israel's behavior as a nation, but as individuals, we can't look at our own conduct, motives, words, and not acknowledge that "steeped in sin" pretty much covers it.  

However, God mercifully throws in a "But now" ... we are given a brief moment of grace.  He's brightened our eyes -- allowed us to see our need.  He's given us security -- the offer of deliverance from our sinful natures through Christ's sacrifice.  He hasn't abandoned us in our slavery.

A brief moment of grace ... a respite from the insanity of self-focus, and self-worship to hear Him calling.