I’ve been doing a lot of thinking on the subject of grace lately.

My thoughts have generally focused on the lack of it. As I look at the Church, I find a strange absence of grace among believers. Look at the in-fighting within church walls. Look at the arguments between denominations. Look at the grasp for power between conservatives and liberals. Look at the relationships between believers. Look at the relationships between believers and non-believers. What is missing? Too often, it is grace.

It’s my considered opinion that, for those of us who have received God’s grace, we should take it beyond experience and put it into practice.

What would our world look like if God’s “amazing grace” was lived out by His people? What would it look like if believers chose to respond with grace rather than judgment? How would our lives, our churches, and our world be different if we would respond in an attitude and manner of grace towards those who have wronged us with their words or actions?

Grace is a pretty incredible thing…And, I’m pretty sure it’s not meant to stop once we receive it. Once we receive grace, we should respond by living lives of grace.

While pondering the practice of grace, I stumbled across a writing of Mike Yaconelli’s on the subject. He writes:

Grace is outrageously unfair, ridiculously extravagant, and unashamedly the center of the gospel, and it sure beats judgmentalism, legalism, and all the other isms. Grace always gives second chances, third chances, and never stops giving chances. Grace has Jesus written all over it. Grace makes people nervous, because they are always so worried someone is going to take advantage of it. But that’s what we like about grace. You can take advantage of it. But here’s the really interesting part – grace doesn’t just let everyone in. Anyone, yes, but not everyone. And the Grace of God frequently includes the unexpected. So…who’s in and who’s not? Only God knows, and that’s fine with us.

How will you live out a life of grace?