I’m made of the same stuff that everyone else on this planet is made of, and I’ve been hot-wired to treat people as they deserve to be treated. Scripture invites me to be gracious—even when I am wronged, but that doesn’t come naturally. So, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s impossible for ME to be gracious.
But over the years an extra-terrestrial concept has taken root in my heart that defies human logic and mimics a divine way of thinking that’s foreign to my natural self. It’s an “anyway” kind of thinking that sounds ridiculous but feels right. It goes like this. If someone treats me poorly, I should love them anyway! Or, if someone takes advantage of me, I should not retaliate, but respond with kindness and grace anyway—because, If I want to disrupt the cycle of evil and confuse the powers of darkness, I need to defy the natural order and embody the ethics of Jesus.
“In all His
You might be thinking, yeah, but look what it got Him. For all of His graciousness Jesus was scourged and killed. Is this what we’ll get for being like Jesus? Jesus did say, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first” (John 15:18).
Grace Revolution
Our cemeteries are filled with fallen soldiers who willingly gave their lives to defend the freedoms we enjoy! We call them heroes! And in like manner, it should be viewed as heroic when individuals resist Satan’s forced servitude to become part of God’s grace revolution.
The gospel is heaven’s resistance manifesto wherein those who embrace it become rebels with a cause—to break the grip of sin on human hearts!
Some want us to believe that our greatest enemies are abortion, homosexuality, liberalism and secularism. And they’ve committed all of their resources to fighting certain people and their ideological positions. But the real battle is within.
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:43-45).
I can only live like this when I am overwhelmed by grace! “Lord, bring it on!”
