…Out of Christ fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. – John 1:14
Since today, I celebrate the blessing and the grace of another year on this earth, I want to share from one of my favorite authors, Brennon Manning, on grace.
What is grace? Is it the belief that we have the free and unmerited favor of God? Is it the manifestation of salvation in the sinner’s life? Is grace the blessing we receive, whether expected or not? Yes, grace is all of these things. Grace is the very essence of knowing the honor and glory of God, having been in the presence of God, even unaware, and knowing that it is all going to be okay.
In his final book before death, Author Bennan Manning says this:
“My message, unchanged for more than fifty years, is this: God loves
you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because
nobody is as they should be. It is the message of grace…A grace
that pays the eager beaver who works all day long the same wages
as the grinning drunk who shows up at ten till five…A grace that
hikes up the robe and runs breakneck toward the prodigal reeking
of sin and wraps him up and decides to throw a party no ifs, ands,
or buts…This grace is indiscriminate compassion. It works without
asking anything of us…Grace is sufficient even though we huff and
puff with all our might to try to find something or someone it cannot
cover. Grace is enough…Jesus is enough.”
All is grace, Manning would say, it’s there is every breath in the lungs of every person who needs it, and the truth is we all need it. Nothing is too big for grace, nor is anything too small for grace. Grace can be found each and every day as we look into the eyes of someone who needs to know they are loved by God, or in the voice telling us we are loved. From birth till final breath, and everything we may do in between this is what we need most in this life; grace and the understanding that it is already given freely and openly.
This year’s activities have not been as expected or planned, but I hope that as bad as things seem from time-to-time in this life we would remember that grace is here, grace is in the blessing of each new day, and the love that we share in the name of Jesus Christ. Go and be grace given to this world in His name.
Grace and Peace,
Sam