“She was very gracious in accepting my apology,” we say with heartfelt admiration. “He gave a very gracious speech in light of the circumstances,” we add, aware he could have done differently. Our common references to grace reveal we most always link it to “something that didn’t have to be done that way,” or someone who made a noble choice to rise above the normal human lust for power, wealth, or influence. Grace is always a choice, even in difficult, vexing moments. And there we find a useful definition of God’s gracious acts toward us: they are always somethings He was never obligated to do. It was it is—a choice, a principled, character-driven, even painful decision to offer us His love and His forgiveness. Even when we spat on His Son, and beat Him badly, and laughed at His extremity, and mocked Him as He died. If God were not gracious, all who have ever lived would be doomed. “For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). But grace is real; forgiveness happens, and broken lives are made brand-new. In every hour—on every day—the Father offers the mercy we will neither merit nor deserve. And all for the deep satisfaction He receives of seeing us embraced and welcomed into the kingdom of His Son. So stay in grace. -Bill Knott
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Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Increasing Your Net Worth (February 28, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: First Light (February 21, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: The Struggle To Forgive (February 14, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: The Pace Of Grace (February 7, 2020)
Introducing The Why: The Greatest Building
Jared Thurmon: Inspiration or Perspiration? (February 2020)
Journeys With Jesus: The Spirit of Judgment (February 2020)
Gerald Klingbeil: No Marketing Gimmick (February 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: A Place At The Table (January 31, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: The Best News (January 24, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Learning To Walk Again (January 17, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: A Psalm Of Grace (January 10, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: A Covenant For Wanderers (January 3, 2020)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Walking Across The Line (December 27, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Delivered Into Light (December 20, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Not Just December 25 (December 13, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: No Strings Attached (December 6, 2019)
Wilona Karimabadi, First Note to Final Bow (December 2019)
Wilona Karimabadi, Ministry In A Can of Spray Paint (December 2019)
Gerald Klingbeil: The Unwrapping (December 2019)
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