“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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GRACE AND SILENCE (October 15,2021)
PERSISTENT GRACE (October 08, 2021
UNSTOPPABLE (October 01, 2021)
ALWAYS ON MY MIND (September 24, 2021)
REGIFTING GRACE (September 17, 2021)
THE ORIGIN OF FORGIVENESS (September 10, 2021)
THE HOPE OF CHANGE (September 03, 2021)
UNFAILING LOVE (August 27, 2021)
SWEET SONG OF GRACE (August 20, 2021)
AGAINST THE TIDE (August 13, 2021)
GRACE AND TRUTH (August 06, 2021)
Bill Knott's Editorial: The Stories We Tell, August 2021
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: WALKING WITH THE GRACIOUS (July 31, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: GRACE AT RISK (July 23, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: WHEN GRACE WINS (July 16, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: FULL, RICH, AND FREE (July 09, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: THE GRACE WE GIVE (July 02, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: BETTER THAN WE REMEMBER (June25, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: THE POWER TO CHANGE (June 18, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: GETTING IT RIGHT (June 11, 2021)
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