Afraid of Grace?

The quote I am sharing today from Stuart Tyner's book Searching for the God of Grace will be one that in order to get the entire blessing one would need to read the whole chapter, and I am sorry about that, but there is a richness in this paragraph that I hope come through with just this section of the chapter.

 

 

"Total dependence is a tough assignment. Obviously, Scrovegni wasn't the first or the last to be overwhelmed by the desire to contribute something to the salvation equation. The impulse to try to change God's mind is a ancient as Cane, as persistent as Sarah's laughter, as quick as Moses' grasping credit for bring water from the rock. Our words betray us. "Make me like one of Your hired servants, we insist, speaking the language of merit so stubbornly that we miss the warmth of our Father's welcoming embrace, the significance of the robe and ring of acceptance, the joy of the opening moments of the resurrection celebration (Luke 15:24). It's almost as if we were running away from the gospel, as if we were afraid of grace, not wanting to be that rich, that forgiven, that assured."

         But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '

20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. 

Luke 15:17-24