Grace

I want to very briefly describe grace to enable us appreciate its impact in our lives as well as be able to notice the absence of its appreciation in our lives.

Grace is commonly defined as unmerited favor, especially when it applies to God. He relates with us using His grace. And that grace is the product of His love, also described as self giving.

That grace comes from God and does not dilute any of His other character traits, if I may call them that.

It therefore means that God’s grace does not negate His justice or holiness, for example.

Grace does nothing to reduce God’s hatred of sin. If anything it amplifies it.

Grace amplifies God’s nature in the one who has received it.

Paul wrote extensively about grace. In fact, most of what most people use to talk about grace is quoted from his writings.

Yet grace is as abundant in the Old Testament as it is in the writings of the apostle. You see, grace describes God. And His book, the Bible, the whole of it, is the evidence we have for the same.

Grace is allergic to sin just as God is. That is why anyone speaking about God yet comfortable with sin has no idea about grace. And anyone shouting about grace yet cozy with sin in his or his friends lives has no idea the kind of God that grace originates from.

But it does not stop there.

Graces invites the sinner into repentance and facilitates the same, even the recovery from its damage.

As an example, the Paul who ordered someone to be delivered to Satan is the same one who pled with them to receive him when he repented.

Most grace peddlers of today dangle between enablers of sin to judgmental Pharisees to holders of true grace. They are very lenient with sin in their circles yet brutal to those holding a different opinion, however scriptural it may be. They have no space for anyone singing a different tune. Differing from their theological or doctrinal position will have them damn you to hell for all they care. You are only safe in their camp.

Grace produces a parent who raises their child from a babe to a responsible adult, even another parent.

Grace walks with the toddler as it is crawling all over touching and tasting anything it can lay its tiny hands on. It allows the child to empty its bowels anywhere and everywhere.

But it does not stop there. It toilet trains him, teaches him to sit, stand, walk, talk.

Then it trains him to stop wallowing in all that dirt. It toilet trains him.

It then trains him to take responsibility, first for his things, then for the things of others.

Eventually it enables him to lead a fruitful life, even having his own family and raising children.

Lack of such kind of parenting is the reason we have spoilt children. You see, grace makes use of the rod just like a parent will do to ensure a child grows up properly.

But grace also makes for a wayward child to come back home after seeing the error of his ways. Remember the prodigal son? But he comes back not for the bounty of his father’s wealth but totally changed and ready to start life at the bottom. And there always is room for that in grace.

Grace is firm but not rigid. It is flexible but not wishy washy. Grace allows for growth. Grace prepares for growth. Grace anticipates growth. Grace has no allowance for the lack of growth.

Remember Jesus? He received people the way they came. But do you realize none went back the way they were when they were received?

That is how grace operates.

If you find yourself making allowance for sins and foibles and weaknesses instead of growth, then you are not walking in grace. If you find yourself rigid in your condemnation of different positions, you are not walking in grace. If the scriptures are not the only source you use for handling differences, you are not walking in grace.

You see. God is our example of grace in action. Though He razed Sodom for their sins, He saved Rahab the harlot and joined her to His people. The same Jesus who vigorously rebuked the Pharisees is the same one who found room for the thief on the cross.

Will we walk in that grace?