Grace...

U2 sings that grace "makes beauty out of ugly things" and that it's an idea that changed the world. When I was on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ I would often ask students, "How do you define grace?" Typical answers were "beauty" or "you know, like a good dancer" and then I would explain to them that grace also means, "unmerited favor".


One night Amy and I were at a small group gathering at a friends home and he asked the same question, "What is grace?" Amy and I knew the answer, "unmerited favor" we exclaimed. Then he asked the follow up, "Is that what inspired something like the song, 'Amazing Grace'?"

From that moment on I have wrestled with "grace". I have tried to discover the kind of grace that inspires songs like U2's Grace and causes us to respond emotionally when we hear and sing Amazing Grace. Words can be frustrating things at times. The leave us wanting more. I have yet to find a simple definition to the kind of grace that leaves me speechless and in awe of the greatness of God? What I do know is that "unmerited favor" doesn't cut it. While I can't explain it, I know it when I see it.

Do you?

One of the Pharisees asked him [Jesus] over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.” 

Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Oh? Tell me.” 

“Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?” 

Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” 

“That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” 

Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.” 

That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!” 

He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50, MSG)

It has been said that if you have a small view of your own sin, you have a small view of your savior. Grace becomes amazing. We struggle with remembering though. We forget our stories and we forget that it was Jesus that saved and not ourselves.  

Grace ceases to be amazing when we forget how much we need it.