St Jude's In The Mountains
Anglican Church - Tehachapi CA
Anglican Church - Tehachapi CA
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What a marvel is the grace of God! If there is ever to be a timeless theme for a meaningful Lent, there is nothing like the grace of the living God. Last month I wrote about having a "Joyful Lent" but the secret to joy is the awareness of God's grace and love. Unlike popular culture, however, which sees grace as an aesthetic quality, like beauty, the grace of God is in fact an expression of His love. Specifically, grace is undeserved favor. It is found in forgiveness given to one who can never undo a wrong that was committed. It is known in compassion given to a needy person unable to pay back the favor. It is seen in a marriage, where each spouse is keenly aware of his or her unworthiness of their beloved's affection and devotion. The more we meditate on the grace of God, the more we can see His hand on our lives, the more we are aware of His love, and the more we can sense His joy welling up within us.
Grace is one of the great mysteries of the Christian life that distinguishes Christian faith from any other world view. Eastern religions enshrine the concept of Karma, the notion that one must suffer in this life or in a life to come for wrongs committed. Western secularists call for "fairness", appealing to a punitive sense of justice or vengeance for wrongs committed. Islamic culture likewise appeals to justice through personal or divine retribution, most notoriously through "honor killings" of those who have wronged or dishonored others or their families. None of these cultures celebrate mercy or forgiveness. Only in the Biblical vision do we see the unfairness of mercy and forgiveness visited upon repentant wrongdoers. Only in Christian faith are we commanded to forgive, even warned to in parables of judgment against refusing grace toward others. Only in the Christian life are we offered a new life, free from the mistakes of the past. Only in Christ is the justice of God fulfilled, not by wrath on repentant souls, but by God Himself bearing such wrath for our sakes. This is the foundation of divine Grace. If our Lord Jesus fulfilled divine justice, who are we to refuse God's mercy? Indeed, who are we to refuse the new life He paid so dearly for? Who are we to deny such forgiveness to others in turn? Grace is a marvelous gift indeed!
This Lent, as we meditate on God's grace, take stock in the mercy you have experienced lately. Some of us may have made tragic mistakes long ago, and are only now finding the healing of a fresh start. Some of us had been wronged and are only now finding the chance to let go of years of vengeful bitterness. Some of us perhaps had been struggling for years with health problems or chronic need, and only now have taken stock of God's great providence even in the midst of personal pain. His mercy abounds! We have but to see it, live into it, and extend it to others in turn. As with the love of God, people know the grace of God from grace that we extend to them ourselves. Too often we hear of churches "shooting their wounded," in other words, refusing grace to those in need of it. Gracelessness estranges embittered people from God and often does the same to those who are refused grace at their hands. Conversely, when our hearts are open to God's mercy, extending it to others, we are drawn to God and those who experience our mercy are as well. This Lent, may we evermore experience and share the Grace of God, that the new life He offers may abound in ever greater joy for each of us and for those whose lives we touch.
Grace is one of the great mysteries of the Christian life that distinguishes Christian faith from any other world view. Eastern religions enshrine the concept of Karma, the notion that one must suffer in this life or in a life to come for wrongs committed. Western secularists call for "fairness", appealing to a punitive sense of justice or vengeance for wrongs committed. Islamic culture likewise appeals to justice through personal or divine retribution, most notoriously through "honor killings" of those who have wronged or dishonored others or their families. None of these cultures celebrate mercy or forgiveness. Only in the Biblical vision do we see the unfairness of mercy and forgiveness visited upon repentant wrongdoers. Only in Christian faith are we commanded to forgive, even warned to in parables of judgment against refusing grace toward others. Only in the Christian life are we offered a new life, free from the mistakes of the past. Only in Christ is the justice of God fulfilled, not by wrath on repentant souls, but by God Himself bearing such wrath for our sakes. This is the foundation of divine Grace. If our Lord Jesus fulfilled divine justice, who are we to refuse God's mercy? Indeed, who are we to refuse the new life He paid so dearly for? Who are we to deny such forgiveness to others in turn? Grace is a marvelous gift indeed!
This Lent, as we meditate on God's grace, take stock in the mercy you have experienced lately. Some of us may have made tragic mistakes long ago, and are only now finding the healing of a fresh start. Some of us had been wronged and are only now finding the chance to let go of years of vengeful bitterness. Some of us perhaps had been struggling for years with health problems or chronic need, and only now have taken stock of God's great providence even in the midst of personal pain. His mercy abounds! We have but to see it, live into it, and extend it to others in turn. As with the love of God, people know the grace of God from grace that we extend to them ourselves. Too often we hear of churches "shooting their wounded," in other words, refusing grace to those in need of it. Gracelessness estranges embittered people from God and often does the same to those who are refused grace at their hands. Conversely, when our hearts are open to God's mercy, extending it to others, we are drawn to God and those who experience our mercy are as well. This Lent, may we evermore experience and share the Grace of God, that the new life He offers may abound in ever greater joy for each of us and for those whose lives we touch.
