A Reflection On Grace

When I am humbled by a recognition of my sin

Grace begins with a crisis. It cannot be understood apart from a clear recognition that we need it desperately. When we hear the truth about ourselves, as Paul did on the road to Damascus, we should be humbled. The revelation of our true nature and the fact that we were all once enemies of God (Romans 5:10) would be psychologically devastating if not for the grace that follows. Jesus speaks the painful truth. And sometimes that truth is incredibly humbling.

God means for us to walk in this kind of humility. No redeemed people are spared from the knowledge of their offenses before God, because it is only in that knowledge that we can stand in His grace. It is harsh, yes, but behind the harshness is the love that brings us to Him. Is there any pride in the way we Christians relate to God or to one another? Let it be undone by the severity of truth and the comfort of grace.

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!”

Acts 9:4-5