On Grace

A mentor of mine likes to say, “God will pick you up wherever you are.  But He loves you too much to leave you there.”

 

Grace is not affirming you, regardless of your intent.  If you mean to live contrary to God’s ethical norms set forth in Scripture, then God does not “affirm” you.  He will probably graciously allow you to live on for a while, even if you’re blissfully unaware of your condemnation.  And others should treat you with the dignity all people deserve as bearing the image of God.  But sometimes that also means telling you truth you don’t want to hear.  Others don’t have to organize their life around your aberrant behavior.

 

Grace is continuing to offer an exit ramp, off of the highway to Hell.  This offer should never stop, until one’s last breath of life.

 

Many people confuse striving for obedience with a lack of grace.  “You’re trying too hard, man.  Let go, and let God!”  No, one form of grace that God gives us is the desire to obey Him.  Trying to obey God is not contrary to grace, in itself.

 

 

The lack of grace most likely to appear in the believer, is not wanting to pick up the lost wherever they are, and offer them grace and kindness.  My type tends to assume that they are there because they are intent on rebelling against God.  Sometimes that’s true.  Other times, they are at the end of another hopeless search for meaning or joy in life.  They have questions, and are ready to hear options.

 

People are more broken and lonely now than ever.  Don’t be deceived by the conservative media, which often implies that every unbeliever is a strident, set-in-stone, God-hater out to revile or shoot you.  Not everyone who isn't with you, is against you.

 

Assume this instead:  Everyone needs the gospel.  Every day.

 

Jesus knows your brokenness better than you do.  He knows the sin at its root, even when you don’t see that yet.  And he died to take your guilt away.  Trust Him, follow Him, and freedom awaits.  It won’t always be easy.  But it is possible to move forward toward restoration, with a free and clear conscience before God.  No matter what you have done.  This is the good news, the Gospel.