The Grace Wind Tunnel

Grace is like oxygen, hard to nail down and yet you can’t live without it. Grace is more like a wind tunnel than a green meadow, but if that messes with your precious moments mental image, let’s say the wind tunnel has a pleasantly painted wall-to-wall mural of a meadow.

The more I think about it the less I’m compelled by the strict distinction between mercy and grace that is popular, but you are welcome to maintain it. But let’s work with it anyway. If’s often said that mercy is not getting what you deserve, and grace is getting what you didn’t deserve.

What does grace give that you didn’t deserve? Mercy keeps you from death, then forgiveness and righteousness and reconciliation would be extra gifts. That’s all grace. Grace to us is God’s saving favor to us, and amen.

It’s also true that grace gives us what is demanded of us. Grace gives us our duties. Grace has lesson plans. Grace teaches, grace disciplines, grace enables.

Do you really want God’s grace? By God’s grace, you will want it, including when grace points out that what you’ve been wanting is no good, that what you’ve been pursuing is more worldly than godly, and that you’ve really got to give it up. Grace doesn’t just cover your bad desires, grace changes your tastes, your delights.

Grace may find you on the couch, but it fills your lungs with oxygen to run. With great grace comes great grace training for growth in godliness.