Scripture: Romans 11:6
But if it is by grace, it isn’t by what’s done anymore. If it were, God’s grace wouldn’t be grace.
Thought for the Day: Grace is a funny thing. It has nothing to do with our beliefs, actions, reactions or anything else. If it did, according to Paul, it wouldn’t be grace. Perhaps, though others might argue differently, the greatest challenge that has faced Christianity through its history has been its inability to accept grace as grace. The moment we begin to accept grace and its immeasurable inclusion, we find a lot of folks showing up; all those folks who make us uncomfortable; all those who get in the way of us achieving our personal goals; all those people who are not like us. We start by embracing grace, we see its beautiful repercussions, and then we get anxious. In our heightened state of anxiety, we begin limiting the scope and power of grace…which has often ended with some of the ugliest moments in Christian history. Grace is tough stuff, and it requires trust in God, self-confidence, and a true appreciation of its power to redeem and transform the worst among us… which, like Paul, might be us.
Prayer: As you are gracious, Holy God, encourage my understanding of grace so that I can allow grace to be grace. Too often my sinfulness begins to chip away at grace, and the moment it does, the new thing created is not a slightly reduced grace. It is no longer your grace. Forgive me, and then reteach me by means of Jesus and his life. Amen.UIKeyInputDownArrow
