Last week I started reading 'What's so Amazing about Grace?' by Philip Yancey, and this has triggered a train of thought, as well as a sequence of events. This is why I'm calling this entry #1, because I have a sneaky suspicion that this will not be the last on this topic!
Some of the statements, quotes or thoughts that have been hanging around are:
"There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less."
"Grace is the church's great distinctive. It is the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else--for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world." - Inside cover of 'What's so Amazing about Grace?'
"One of the most gifted writers of our day [Yancey] has put a telescope on the brilliant star of grace and finely focused on what a beautiful and powerful healing force followers of Jesus Christ could become. Empowered by love and forgiveness we could mount a revolution more glorious than all the political establishments the world has ever known. - The Honorable Mark O. Hatfield, commenting on 'What's so Amazing about Grace?'
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.-Philip Yancey
Then too, there have been discussions with friends who, for want of a better of word, are perfectionists. These have considered the concept of grace, getting what one doesn't deserve, and not being too hard on oneself when one makes mistakes. Perhaps trying to realise that one is not perfect.
In due course, I'll work through what I've read in the first part of the first chapter of this amazing book, because it was really thought-provoking - yes, even so little. But here's some food for thought to leave you with.
The word "grace" is the last best word.
