This weekend I’d like you to reflect on ‘grace’. The most celebrated attribute of God in the Bible is not his justice but his grace. Grace is undeserved favour and kindness. Paul says that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Let’s note the order of that. God’s kindness (which flows from his love and grace) precedes our repentance. He doesn’t wait until we repent to show us kindness. No, it is his kindness that leads us to repentance. And then our salvation follows our repentance. As God has shown us grace, so too should we extend grace to others. We often feel justified in withholding grace and kindness from a person if they are unrepentant. Until they apologise, we feel that we have a right to ignore them and express our anger at them. However, the moment you accepted grace from God you forfeited this right. It is indeed important that people repent and even apologise for the wrongs they have done. This is important for them. What leads people to repentance, however, is not being spurned, but receiving kindness from those they have wronged. So don’t ever withhold kindness and love from people on the grounds that have not yet regretted their wrongdoing. Grace, by definition, is undeserved. When it is given, it transforms hearts. It is not conditional on such transformation. Grace effects transformation.
Reflect on who you need to show grace to.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 12:17-21.
