EXCEPT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD...

This is one of those statements I often hear as a comment of relief when seeing somebody else’s suffering. It is a confession of gratitude and praise for being remind how fragile life truly can be.

How many times I wonder though do we pass through a moment without such thoughts? We see the suffering or even suffer ourselves without this thought. Or it gets said without any really depth of true emotion.

I say this because it seems too often the real power of God’s grace eludes us at times. I ask how many times is it the basis of some sermon? How many pulpits emphasize grace as part of their ministry?

I honestly can’t answer it for all churches. But I know when I have listened to biblical teaching the word grace is most of the time absent from the message.

The apostle Paul never started a letter it seemed without extending grace to the readers. Jesus didn’t use the word when talking to the disciples for the most part. But his actions and compassion with them certainly were personifications of grace.

In reality isn’t grace, which is also known as unmerited favor, the embodiment of the purest form of love? That is the one God extends to us even though we don’t deserved it.

And thus at the core of grace it the mystery of God’s heart. That divine essence that extends out to us because he wants to and doesn’t has to. He could have created us as spiritual robots that did his bidding without thought. Instead he gave us a heart to follow its passions and a brain to choose, which ones would rule our lives.

Despite our failings, despite the times we disappoint him in our rebellion and selfishness, he still covers us with grace. He still contends with our soul and Jesus is still the lord over our all mankind, even those who reject him.

So there are times we can celebrate. Guilt too me that goes beyond its intended purpose is the absence of truly embracing grace. We should accept our failing and sadness should predictable follow if we have any conscience.

However, that doesn’t mean we necessarily treat it this way. Too many sermons seem far more concerned in telling us how to please God by avoiding some sin. By honoring him through living a life that we in reality will never achieve as sinners.

This happens instead of celebrate the mercy of grace. Instead of sitting down and simply being grateful that God doesn’t treat us as we treat each other. It is to surrender to following god through the valleys where we stumble and fall. It means getting up and starting over. It doesn’t mean saying “I’ll never do that again!” Someday perhaps the light of revelation of God’s grace will truly shine as intended. We can pray always to see it as it truly shines.