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The Scandal of Grace

Begin today’s devotional by reading Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the prodigal son.

The Gospel is scandalous, isn’t it?

It offers grace to those who least deserve it.

Just like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son that we’ve just read, God welcomes us back with open arms despite our rebellion.

God is holy. Holiness often gets a bad rap, unfairly judged as the quality of looking down on another in superiority. ‘Holier than thou’ is another phrase that is often thrown around to describe someone who elevates themselves due to their perceived godliness, whilst looking down their nose at others who they believe to be less righteous.

Holiness, nonetheless, is a positive quality. And God embodies it. Because of His holiness He cannot coexist with the impure, unholy behavior of individuals.

We, as humans, make mistakes. We stumble, trip, and fall daily. But the grace of God made manifest in Jesus Christ gives us a pathway back into relationship with Him. Scandalous grace!

We can sometimes feel that we must earn God’s love or grace, but the truth is that grace is a gift.

‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.’

(Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

This grace is hard for many to accept, as it contradicts our human instinct for justice and fairness. We believe that someone who commits a crime should not have grace extended to them, even if they repent and turn from their wicked ways! Not so with God. All He requires of us is to receive His Son, the One who sacrificed His life for ours, and commit to live a life following Him. When we stumble, we apologize. When we trip, we ask for forgiveness. When we fall, we repent.

Understanding the scandal of grace brings freedom - it’s not about what we do, but what Christ has done for us. It may be ludicrous that there is no way we can repay Jesus for all He has done for us, all He has given. But this is the shocking state of affairs, friends!

The mercy of God is scandalous. His grace, love and favor are unmerited and unfathomable...but this is the beautiful life we get to live in as followers of Jesus.