How does grace sound?
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
How does grace sound?
Grace sounds like, “Here’s a burger, fries and a soda, buddy. It looks like you could use it.”
Grace sounds like, “Let’s try this again.”
Grace sounds like, “Flaws! What flaws? I love her just the way she is!”
Grace sounds like, “I forgive you,” from the mouths of church members to the shooter who slaughtered nine of their members during a bible study.
Grace sounds like, “I love you,” from a small, innocent child to a parent who knows they haven’t been perfect.
Grace sounds like, “I’ll pay for the person in line behind me, too.”
Grace sounds like a mother saying, “I forgive you,” to the drunk driver who killed her three small children.
Grace sounds like the buzz and roar of lawn equipment, the slap of a paintbrush, the whirring of a vacuum cleaner, when folks come together to help a neighbor in need.
Grace sounds like, “No, you take the last one.”
Grace sounds like, “I love you and forgive you,” to a spouse who has strayed.
Maybe you call these kindnesses, or common courtesy, or being neighborly, or helping those less fortunate, or “being Christian.” I would say you’re not wrong. These examples are all those things.
Maybe you call these things preposterous, foolish, the words of a weak person - unwilling or unable to stand up for themselves, the words of a glutton for punishment, a doormat, a submissive person, or even an idiot. I would say the world would have us believe these things.
I am reminded of just one small part of a prayer most of us know.
Father, forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do those who intentionally harm us deserve our favor?
No, absolutely not!
Grace sounds like the lash of a whip tied with small bits of bone, metal and stone as it mauls the innocent flesh of the Savoir of the World.
Grace sounds like the bang, bang, bang of nails being driven through Jesus’ hands into the wood of the cross.
Grace sounds like, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Grace sounds, like, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Grace sounds like the ripping of thick cloth as the temple veil is rent from top to bottom.
Grace sounds like the violent shaking of the earth, splitting rocks and opening tombs.
Grace sounds like, “It is finished,” from the dying lips of Jesus.
Grace sounds like, “He is risen.”
Did we deserve God’s favor?
No, absolutely not!
Grace: undeserved, unmerited, unearned favor
Grace sounds like it was the plan from the beginning.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1: 1,2,14 NIV
Grace sounds like the plan for all eternity.
But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! He raised us up with Christ, the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!
Throughout the coming ages we will be the visible display of the infinite, limitless riches of his grace and kindness, which was showered upon us in Christ Jesus.
For it was only through this wonderful [AMAZING] grace that we believed in him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving. Ephesians 1:4-9 TPT
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, it saved a wretch like me! It was the plan all along, from before the beginning. Grace. I imagine heaven resounds with the praises of God’s goodness and grace.
The sound of grace. Do you hear it? Do others?
Father, thank you for your amazing grace. Thank you for saving me, a wretch, by your grace and your grace alone. Please help me to recognize the sound of grace, and to think like, be like, and sound like grace today. In Jesus name I pray.