The grace of God stands in a category all by itself. There’s nothing to compare with it because there’s nothing else like it in time or eternity. Grace is expression of the complete goodness of Pure Love toward those who have done nothing and never can do anything to deserve it or reciprocate for it. Either grace is a unilateral act or it’s not grace. The minute we think we owe anything for it, we have insulted both the gift and the giver. Those who spend their lives “trying to pay Him back for all He has done for me” will spend a lifetime unwittingly insulting the One they most want to please. Religion is the greatest enemy of grace because it exists in a culture where the currency of survival is performance. Religion nurtures a detestable fetish in its carnal craving to “pay the price, breakthrough, storm the gates” and other such nonsense that excites the flesh in ways that arouse demonic lust that climaxes in the smug afterglow of a satisfied Pharisee.
Grace throws parties for returning prodigals without saying a word about their sins. Grace pays everybody the same regardless of what time of day they began to work. Grace restores dignity to whores that everybody else wants to stone. Grace hugs the diseased leper (or AIDS patient) that nobody else wants to touch. Grace looks past a person’s behavior and sees the person for who they are in the eyes of God.
Grace is irrational to the thinker. It is unfair to the judge. Grace is foolishness to the achiever. It is a waste to the selfish. Grace is a mistake to the disciplinarian. It is shame to the religionist.
But it is a stream of water to the thirsty. It’s freedom to the imprisoned. It is life to the dead. Grace is rest to the tired. It is another chance to the failed. It is hope to the despondent. It is a way out for the lost and a way in for those who can see the Door.
Grace. It’s not a theological premise. It’s not a doctrine. It’s not a philosophy. It’s not something to be balanced with anything else. It’s not even the most important thing. It’s The One Thing – The Only Thing. It’s a Person – a Person who has held you in His heart before the first molecule existed and One who will never let you go.
Wow.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Steve. I really liked this post the first time I read it except that I was annoyed that you kept referring to grace as in 'it.' Then, after reading all the way through a second time, I saw the closing paragraph and it is the perfect ending. Grace is a Person and is personal. I kind of look at grace as Christ's fingerprints. It's forensic evidence of His presence.
ReplyDeleteSee? This is why I love Steve McVey, the one whom God has designed as His vessel through which to baptize sons and daughters in perfect and endless love. And then do it again.
ReplyDeleteWell done, my friend.
This is abslutely beautiful! Thanks...
ReplyDeleteGreat post and wonderful, freeing thoughts. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteU just can't get better than this!
ReplyDeleteRight on! Love this read, thanks Steve
ReplyDeletereading your thougts today is like taking a long drink of cool water. thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, I see Grace better through your description of it just as love in the book of I Corinthians 13. Thanks for all your revelation and insight.
ReplyDeleteAmen, beautifully spoken.
ReplyDeleteO no He never lets go
ReplyDeletethrough the calm and through the storm; Every morsel you wrote is food and water to the thirsty in soul because Jesus's words backs them up. You minister to me well re: the Person Who is Jesus re: Who personifies and is a world of grace! Truly from you I'm learning how hospitably God wants to sup with me interacting! Great blog Steve! Dave
Thanks for obeying the Holy spirit, and posting this! I emailed it to my dad to read. God bless you Steve!
ReplyDeleteGrace is a person of Jesus Christ there for how could it be a religion, religion is nothing but a system a box in which everything to do, act, say, say, believe, admire, listen too, dress like, books you read, ect ect goes through for a false sense of approval and acceptance by others who live with in that closed box. The box is found in most religious systems and unfortunate it is also in many many churches that use the box to manage other sins, manipulate obedience, and modify behaviors. IT is all based on fear of those outside the box and wanting to build higher walls to supposedly protect people. IT damages them utterly, trust me I know I was in a box that used grace messages of the finished work to get you inside the box(system) because it is awesome news and then subtle and in smaller way the operation or lifestyle within was totally based on performance and control which contradicted the finished work and after a while you begin to believe the lie if you are hearing the messages over 7-20 times a week at church. bible school, and at the numerous fellowship times. Thankfully Grace delivered me and removed the blindness at first it was very very a painful because you get so furious that you have been utterly betrayed by those who supposedly loved you, discipled you, cared for you, and even led you to the Lord at the most desperate time in your life no longer want to have anything to do with you because i left the box the system. They even went to the point of marking those of us that grace delivered as no longer disciples of God. Some of us like my self was in bed for almost a year because of a serious back problem and some publicly stated that was because i went against or touched God's anointed. I been out for the box since 2003 and thankfully are part of a movement of grace oriented church and helping plant Grace oriented churches as missionaries.
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