This morning I started reading In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado again. He is one of my favorite authors. But I was struck this morning by the parable he tells in the very beginning of the book. This is not the first time I have read the book, so I was about half expecting to fly through it before tackling another difficult read. (My practice is, in addition to my Bible, to alternate "easy"reads and "challenging" reads.)
If you have never read this book, I suggest you find a copy and give it a read. In the opening chapter, he gives us this picture of 4 sons who go astray. Each of them has their own struggles and at the conclusion of the parable, the eldest son comes to take them back home to their father. I don't want to spoil the way Dr. Lucado has written this parable, so I will let that summary suffice. What I found particularly interesting this time around was the faces that swam into my memory as I read the struggles of these 4 brothers. Don't worry, I'll not mention any names here. It wasn't in a condemning or harsh way that I saw these dear brothers and sisters as I read of the struggles. Rather, I saw them in a way that broke my heart. They have, for one reason or another, spurned the grace of God. They don't want or are unwilling to accept this free gift.
Grace is unmerited favor, an unearned gift. It is giving what is not deserved. We don't deserve to be forgiven by God. We don't deserve to be offered eternal life through Jesus, God's only Son. If you don't believe me, read the first three chapters of Romans. Conviction flows from Paul's pen in such force that it will drive you to your knees. Then, when you are there on your knees, finish reading the book of Romans and you will see God's mercy and grace that was poured out in abundance for you. And that is when you truly start to comprehend grace. And that is when you truly start to comprehend the love of God.
Grace is powerful and sufficient. Won't you accept God's grace today?
No comments:
Post a Comment