GraceSample

Uncomfortable Grace

Being the subject of God’s steadfast and profound grace is the most beautiful thing in the world. My first encounter with God’s grace literally took my breath away. How could it be that He would love someone like me? The second revelation I had of His grace was something entirely different and much more uncomfortable—that His grace was extended to everyone who turned their hearts back towards Him, irrespective of what they had done.

At the end of WWII, prominent Nazi’s charged with war crimes were put on trial in Nuremberg. American chaplains Henry Gerecke and Sixtus O’Conner were tasked with taking spiritual care of these men during their trial. Henry Gerecke’s goal was "to save the souls of as many of these men as he could before they were executed" (Mission at Nuremberg by Tim Townsend). These men were the masterminds of the holocaust charged with crimes against peace and against humanity. Surely there’s a limit to God’s grace? Gerecke was widely criticized for ministering to these men, receiving hate mail and threats from people who found this act of grace too much to bear, but who decides who deserves to hear the Gospel? Jonah had the same problem … he had a real understanding of God’s grace, but he also wanted to see the people of Ninevah pay the ultimate price.

True grace can be incredibly uncomfortable, but that’s what makes it so divine. Only a divine, gracious God who’s very being is LOVE could come up with a grace so complete.

Written by LUCY WEIL