More Grace Required
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 [ESV]
I wonder what you think of when you hear the word "Grace"? For me, one of my favourite Christian books deals with this subject very thoroughly and gives a really good understanding of the grace we have received and what grace looks like in the world. If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend Philip Yancey's "What's So Amazing About Grace?"
I can see a real lack of grace in the church today – the problem is many people don't understand what it looks like. Here are some things that make the situation worse:
- People come to church to seek God and find judgementalism
- People who fail or fall are condemned and overlooked, not given second chances
- Struggling people put on a "holy face" rather than confront or share their troubles
- Many in the world mistakenly believe that "good people" go to heaven on merit
- Many feel they are "bad people" and therefore the church and God can't stand them
What does it mean that God loved us so much he was willing to buy back our souls at the cost of his innocent and pure only son? How can we reflect a little bit more of that grace in the way we deal with people?
The problem with grace is that it "goes against the grain" – it is the unnatural reaction to a situation. That's what makes it stand out.
Is there someone today you need to forgive? Is there someone you can tell about the wonderful grace of God?
Lord, thank you that you are a God of Grace and Truth. Show us how to reflect your grace today. Amen.
Dave MacLellan
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