Stunned By His Grace
by Max Lucado

I was mulling over a recent conversation I had with a disenchanted Christian brother. He was upset with me. So upset that he was considering rescinding his invitation for me to speak to his group. Seems he’d heard I was pretty open about who I have fellowship with. He’d read the words I wrote: “If God calls a person his child, shouldn’t I call him my brother?” And, “If God accepts others with their errors and misinterpretations, shouldn’t we?"

He didn’t like that. “Carrying it a bit too far,” he told me. “Fences are necessary,” he explained. “Scriptures are clear on such matters.” He read me a few and then urged me to be careful to whom I give grace.

“I don’t give it,” I assured. “I only spotlight where God already has.”

Later I had a great thought. A why-didn’t-I-think-to-say-that? insight.
If the subject resurfaces, I’ll say it. But in case it doesn’t, I’ll say it to you. (It’s too good to waste.) Just one sentence:

I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by his grace.

Story after story. Prayer after prayer. Surprise after surprise.

Seems that God is looking more for ways to get us home than for ways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not
find it. Search the pages. Read the stories. Envision the encounters. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. I dare you. Search.

You won’t find it.

Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.

We could do the same.

I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?

And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God can overlook my errors, can’t I overlook the errors of others? If God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?

One thing’s for sure. When we get to heaven, we’ll be surprised at some of the folks we see. And some of them will be surprised to see us.

From When God Whispers Your Name
Copyright 1994, Max Lucado

Oh boy!! What a good topic you've chosen here...Have some great references!!

Back later for this one. Son has explosive diarrhea... :puke:

oh...didn't realise this was in the "devotional" forum...will make new thread in theology...

MAX Lucado is such an awesome author! He writes in such a way that it makes me feel like he's next to me in casual conversation. And he gets his point across in a clear way.
So neat!!!! Thanks for this. :bounce:

So, what does projectile squirts have to do with being stunned by grace? Or is the smell stunning and that makes you think of this post? Or do you think Max Lucado is all full of :poop: ?

Oh, boy! I'm having fun with this one! :lol:

:thumbsup:

I can't wait to meet Max Lucado in heaven. He's on my list of people I need to speak to up there.

Isn't it amazing how we can somehow build ourselves up to be greater than God by refusing to offer this grace to our loved ones? How easily we get angry, stay angry, brooding, unable to forgive? Imagine what our lives would be like if God chose to do the same?

Check out Genesis 3, beginning in verse 8, when God came looking for Adam and Eve, AFTER they ate of the fruit. It's awesome.

God walked them! He came down to walk with them, in the cool of the day, knowing, because he is God, what they'd done before they told Him. But he didn't come flying out of heaven, raging that they'd disobeyed Him. He just asked them, calmly, where are you? Knowing already, because again He is God, they were hiding from him in disobedience and fear.

So what does He do? YES, He punishes man and woman, because there is penalty fpr sin. But first, he curses Satan and He places enmity (Jesus) between us and Satan. This was His plan all along - to place Jesus between us and the enemy. Our safety net - salvation!

So who then are we to walk in unforgiveness?

Lynn - you have an awesome way with words, too!

Thanks Clay. That's not me though, that's God.