Grasping Grace

Certain words just don’t feel right when spoken together.  For example, we wouldn’t usually describe chaos as perfect, but a “perfect chaos” could describe a particularly intense chaos.  A “thundering silence” could be a deeply profound moment with no words or sounds.  An “illuminating darkness” could be an evil that reveals a new reality to us.  These word combinations, while ironic on the surface, draw us into a deeper meaning.  Let me introduce you to another such set of words, “grasping grace.” 

Now, I suspect many people wouldn’t find too much irony in these words, but Lutherans will pick up on it right away.  Grasping implies effort or work.  Grace is a free gift that we don’t deserve.  If Martin Luther taught us anything, it’s that we don’t work for the grace of God!  This is true.  Trust me, I’m not trying to start Luther turning over in his grave.  Rather, this unlikely combination of words draws us into a deeper understanding of who we are as Christians.  This deeper meaning is not only consistent with Luther’s Biblical theology, it’s at the very core of everything he fought for. 

We are saved by grace.  Grace happens whenever we receive undeserved gifts from God.  If you think about it, that’s pretty much everything.  None of us did anything to be born.  The various natural abilities that we have were not ordered off a menu as a reward for good behavior.  I’m not growing too much corn these days, so my corn flakes are a reminder of God’s grace.  The list goes on.

How would you feel if someone trashed a beautiful gift that you gave to them?  You probably wouldn’t be too happy.  God has given us life, everything we need to keep living, and the instruction for how to live well.  Then we turn around and disrespect his gift by making choices that hurt others and ourselves.  Luther understood that God doesn’t have to keep loving us and providing for us, but he does it anyway.  God describes himself way back in the Old Testament as a “forgiving God.”  He loves us and forgives us even though we sin. There’s nothing we have to do to attain God’s forgiveness. Jesus did the work for us when he suffered and died, taking all our sins upon himself, so that we may be restored in God’s eyes.

That’s grace.  That’s unconditional love.  That’s an undeserved second chance, and a third, and…  Wow.  Try to comprehend the kind of love that we receive from God, despite our sin.  Seriously, try.  Try to grasp the grace of God.  King David struggled to grasp that grace after he sinned with Bathsheba.  Paul was repeatedly astounded at God’s grace in his letters as he saw Gentiles believe in Jesus and be saved.  Martin Luther found the missing piece of the puzzle when he read the Bible and rediscovered God’s free gift of grace.  The same is true for us.  Don’t take it for granted.  Try to wrap your mind around it.  Be humbled and deeply grateful.  Grasp grace.

When we begin to grasp the enormity of God’s love for us, we also build a closer relationship with him.  We know God to be close and reliable in times of trouble.  We trust more readily in his faithfulness and instruction.  We seek him out in times of insecurity and strife.  The grace of God is a steady force in the midst of the storms of life.  So grasp it.  Hold on to it.  Grasp the grace of God when this world seems hopeless.  Grasp his grace when it feels like things are falling apart.  Grasp his grace when there seems to be no way out.  A Mighty Fortress is Our God!  He loves you.  Never forget that.

Grasping grace.  It’s a lifelong journey into the amazing, steadfast love of God.  So, maybe those two words do belong together.