Have you ever found yourself reluctant to open a door because you were concerned what might be on the other side? It can be like that sometimes when we contemplate opening ourselves to God.
The Apostle Paul speaks to this situation in his letter to the Romans: "We ... open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory" (1). Paul is describing God's grace, a grace that is freely given if we are willing to open the door to our hearts to receive it.
What is God's grace all about? Frederick Buechner, an American writer and theologian, defined the grace of God in the following way: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen . Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you" (2).
Does God's grace sound too wonderful to you to be true? Does Buechner's definition of grace resonate with you? What is keeping you from reaching out and taking this gift today?
Cited:
1. Romans 5:2. The Message. Bible translation by Eugene Peterson.
2. Buechner, Frederick. Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC's of Faith (New York: HarperCollins e-books, 2011), 139.
