Released To Love, Issue #002 -- Grace

Back to Back Issues Page

Released To Love, Issue #002 -- Grace
June 03, 2009

ABIDE
IN THE GRACE
OF THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST

Foundational Articles | Spiritual Growth | Images That Bind
Marriage | Parenting | Homeschooling

I hope this second edition of Released to Love encourages you to grow in grace. Many people have written volumes about grace. Since I couldn’t possibly address all the aspects of this overwhelming gift, instead in this ezine I will focus on only one aspect: practically offering grace.

Please pray with me that the Lord will use this ezine to minister in some small way to each woman who subscribes.

REJOICING IN REALITY

Be strong
in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
~2 Timothy 2:1

A theological definition of grace:
The unmerited operation of God in the heart of man,
affected through the agency of the Holy Spirit.
~Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology

Let’s bring that abstract definition of grace down to the reality of its practice in daily living. Perhaps a story would help.

The Graceless Cat Story

In the hours before dawn a few weeks ago, I woke before the rest of my household to begin my morning routine. Usually my husband joins me while exercising, but this morning he was tired. So I threw on my exercise clothes, neglected to freshen my hair and face (since no one would need to look at me, I reasoned), and headed to the exercise area in our basement.

I decided to feed our four-year-old cat first. He jumped on the counter and the next thing I knew, claws bared, he jumped at my head! I threw him to the floor, and he arched his back and hissed at me. Thinking he would attack me again, I screamed for some help and then ran to the bathroom.

When I looked in the mirror at the bleeding punctures and scratches on my chin and the puncture marks in my neck, I also noticed my hair. What a sight—or maybe I should say fright… at least to the cat! The night before I had taken a bath, had gone to bed with a wet head, and had neglected to brush my hair that morning. The cat must have thought some wild animal was attacking my head, so the cat attacked “it.”

Now what does this story have to do with grace?

There’s a little more I need to share with you so you get the picture. I am trying to let my hair grow out a bit, and that process has been… well, let’s say, it’s not easy for anything to grow initially, even hair.

For the last few months, my hair has been hard to manage, wildly sticking out around my ears, and some days just plain frustrating to tame. Even barrettes, bobby pins, and hair ties don’t seem to do the trick. Some days—like on this particular morning—I just don’t want to deal with it.

Did that cat have grace for my hair’s not quite polished appearance? No! All he saw was the mess and he attacked.

Grace doesn’t attack.

So, I ask you, my dear sister, Do you have grace for your early growth process? For your children’s? For your husband’s? Or do you just see the mess and attack?

As you find the early growth process messy—which it usually is—don’t be like my cat and attack, hiss, and arch your back. Instead, be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.

Now, of course, I wouldn’t expect my cat to have grace. He’s a cat, after all, not an abiding Christian. What he saw scared him, and he reacted. I too reacted to his attack. And if he had continued to attack, my response would have been to stay clear of him. Similarly, when we attack others instead of offer grace, they steer clear of us and the relationship never grows.

Offering grace opens the door to deepening relationship.

I am so thankful that when God saw the mess I had made of my life, it didn’t scare Him and He didn’t attack me. Instead, He showered me with His unmerited grace which drew me to Him. The grace He offers me opens the Door to a continuing, deepening relationship with Him.

Jesus Personified grace;
He is the Door!
(John 10:9)
Rejoice and abide in that reality!