Captivated By Grace

If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:16

Years ago in Chicago, a homeless pit bull, later named Ike, “captivated audiences with two days’ worth of activity on the Eisenhower Expressway,” as a Chicago news station reported. He dodged traffic for two days before being rescued by an animal protection charity. How does a homeless dog “captivate” a city? People were riveted by the news reports; they became fans of the dog, pulling for him to stay safe. They devoted time to talking about the dog and expressing concern.^a

The same could be said about the apostle Paul when he was captured and captivated by the grace of God. He had been a persecutor of Christ and His church, but the very One he persecuted reached out to him with love and forgiveness. Paul never got over being a recipient of the grace of God; he remained a “captive” of God’s grace the rest of his life. He said, “Woe is me if I do not fulfill the purpose for which grace was extended to me.”

Are you captivated by God’s grace? Give thought this week to what God has done for you and how evident your “captivity” is to those around you. God’s grace becomes irresistible over time.

Christian doctrine is grace, and Christian conduct is gratitude.

J. I. PACKER