A Show Of Grace

It is a concept that is hard to put into words. You know how I have this "hobby" of defining words? Well, grace is one word that I have yet to define. It is just a concept that you need a whole book to grasp its entire meaning. In fact I once told a friend that there is a book on grace--the Bible. Sure, it is not just a "book on grace" but you cannot deny that grace waters the roots of many an account found inside its covers. And need I mention the essence of Christ's message--or His life's purpose? But how would you define grace? Some simplify it to mercy, some to forgiveness, some just don't worry about it, and they keep on sinning. My pastor has said that people "use" grace like a credit card (he calls it a grace card). He also says that it's wrong. Mainly because that is abusing grace. . . but I need to define it so that you can know what it means to abuse it. So here is my attempt at defining grace: (a) All encompassing forgiveness; having mercy and looking past all failures of the object or person. (b) Giving the forgiven strength to reach beyond their failure(s) and achieve greater things. (c) Looking at the object of failure and seeing them as without fault--forgetting. Yes, God does actually "forget" your sins: 'Then he says, "I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds"' (Hebrews 10:17). So, if we are all saved "by grace" why do we not fall on our knees daily in the mighty presence of the One and Only? I believe it is because we haven't defined it. Think with me for a few moments. . . if grace is what I just stated above, shouldn't we realize that it is not anything Someone less than everything can just give--freely? It makes me conclude that only a loving, holy, and almighty God could even--truly--comprehend, not to mention giving it for nothing. Reminds me of how the word love--if we follow 1 Corinthians 13--becomes a lifestyle. Shouldn't grace also become a lifestyle? If someone offends us can't we simply realize all that we have done to God and yet he forgot it. He remembers it no more. As far as the "east is from the west"--they are gone. Yet we pull out that old and broken promise made thirty years before--that we knew no one could keep--and refuse to even consider forgetting. Maybe, just maybe, if we see the depth of God's endless grace we would never hold a grudge. Maybe we need to fix our perspective. Maybe we need to show grace.

~TDH