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Biblical Grace: The Change We Don’t Want
In her letters Flannery O’Connor stated,
“All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and change is painful”
O’Connor’s ideas track with biblical truth.
Grace is an undeserved, God-given gift, rescuing us from sin; but we like sin and don’t want to change.
Grace is not something of our own doing, it is not a result of human work, but we like our individual attainments and don’t want to change.
God’s gift of grace means we can’t measure up, pay back, add to, or fall from grace; but we like comparing ourselves to others and don’t want to change.
Grace means I cannot do anything to achieve God’s favor or do good on my own; but we like to think we do good and don’t want to change.
O’Connor is right. Grace changes us and change can be painful. Changing grace overcomes the pain of sin and death; grace is an undeserved gift that gives us life.
Thanks for spending this minute with me, Dr. Mark Eckel.
Mark Eckel (MA English, ThM Old Testament, PhD Social Science Research) is Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration, Liberty University.
“Give Me a Minute” is an ongoing effort to simply, clearly, and quickly explain aspects of true Truth.
Gratitude, as always, to my longtime friend, videographer, and tech guru Josh for his continued service.
AFTERWORD Learn more about why grace is greater than all our sin: a post from 2021.
And don’t miss my post about Denzel Washington’s commencement address at Dillard University, where he said in part, “When you go to bed tonight, I hope you put your slippers way underneath the bed, so that in the morning, you have to get on your knees to reach them. And while you’re down there, thank God for His grace.” Instead of seeking the credit, start giving the credit back, back to The One who has made this life and all things possible. As Denzel says in his address, “Everything I have is by the grace of God.”
Published in General
You’re welcome, Mark.
In a Midrash (homiletic commentary) on the Song of Songs, we read: “Make a small opening for change, like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you entrances through which caravans can pass.”
My Father got out of bed and down on his knees to pray every morning. We children, I’m guessing the smallest of the seven of us, would slide down his back. Thanks for sparking this memory.