“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” — John 1:16-17
I love to write. I have done it most of my adult life, even when I was preaching every week. I also like to read because I believe it makes me a better writer. One of my favorite authors is Philip Yancey. He has made it a life-time pursuit to draw people into God’s presence in a beautiful way that, in my opinion, is unparalleled. I try to read some of his books several times a year.
In this short but dynamic piece by Philip that I want to share with you, he speaks of grace, one of his favorite topics. I couldn’t resist sharing it with you today. I hope you’ll enjoy his writings as much as my wife and I do—and perhaps you’ll seek out his many wonderful books that will grace your life. This is from his “Grace Notes,” a devotional from September 1.
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One way in which the Jesus revolution affects me centers on how we are to view “different’ people.” Jesus’ example convicts me today because I sense a subtle shift in the reverse direction. As society unravels and immorality inreases, I hear calls from some Christians that we show less mercy and more morality, calls that hark back to the style of the Old Testament.
A phrase used by both Peter and Paul has become one of my favorite images from the New Testament. We are to administer, or “dispense,” God’s grace, say the two apostles. The image brings to mind one of the old-fashioned “atomizers” women used before the perfection of spray technology. Squeeze a rubber bulb, and droplets of perfume come shooting out of the fine holes at the other end. A few drops suffice for a whole body; a few pumps change the atmosphere in a room.
That is how grace should work, I think. It does not convert the entire world or an entire society, but it does enrich the atmosphere. Now I worry that the prevailing image of Christians has changed from that of a perfume atomizer to a different spray appparatus: the kind used by insect exterminators. There’s a roach! Pump, spray, pump, spray. There’s a spot of evil! Pump, spray, pump, spray. Some Christians I know have taken on the task of “moral exterminator” for the evil-infested society around them.
I share a deep concern for our society. I am struck, though, by the alternative power of mercy as demonstrated by Jesus, who came for the sick and not the well, for the sinners and not the righteous. Jesus never countenanced evil, but He did stand ready to forgive it.
Somehow, he gained the reputation as a lover of sinners, a reputation that his followers are in danger of losing today. As Dorothy Day put it, “I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.”
— What’s So Amazing About Grace? (157-58).
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We long for fire from heaven to silence skeptics once and for all, but God doesn’t work that way. Long ago He revealed Himself as a helpless baby sleeping in a dirty feed trough, and today He speaks quietly to ordinary people like you and me—if only we are still to listen. (The One Year Book of Hymns)
Thank you, Philip Yancey. You have reminded us once again that our Lord has a soft heart for the lost and desires that none should perish. — Maranatha!
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:9
“God is good all the time. All the time God is good!”
