I just finished reading Yancy's book, again. His focus is on grace - how much we need it, how little we deserve it and sadly, how hard it is for us to extend it to those who differ from us. And it is brimming with hope.
Finding myself quite discouraged about "The Church", Yancy points me to Jesus. While I find living the life I'm called to challenging, full of missed opportunities and disappointment in self and others, Yancy reminds me that God's grace doesn't fail. I am struggling to capture the words to describe what I believe Jesus teaches us about living the life He does, and Yancy directs me to grace. Receiving it - giving it. Not deserving it but accepting it. Loving self, loving others. Being truthful about sin and bountiful with grace. Being forgiven and forgiving.
If you have never read any of Philip Yancy's books, this is a great one to start with. You will experience a full range of emotions and find items to agree with, get mad about, and think long and hard about.
I think "The Church" gets so much wrong so often because we miss grace. We forget the basics. We judge and pronounce verdicts and claim superiority.
I want to choose to focus on the basics - love God, love others. Be gracious.
Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Finding myself quite discouraged about "The Church", Yancy points me to Jesus. While I find living the life I'm called to challenging, full of missed opportunities and disappointment in self and others, Yancy reminds me that God's grace doesn't fail. I am struggling to capture the words to describe what I believe Jesus teaches us about living the life He does, and Yancy directs me to grace. Receiving it - giving it. Not deserving it but accepting it. Loving self, loving others. Being truthful about sin and bountiful with grace. Being forgiven and forgiving.
If you have never read any of Philip Yancy's books, this is a great one to start with. You will experience a full range of emotions and find items to agree with, get mad about, and think long and hard about.
I think "The Church" gets so much wrong so often because we miss grace. We forget the basics. We judge and pronounce verdicts and claim superiority.
I want to choose to focus on the basics - love God, love others. Be gracious.
Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 comment:
You've got the right focus...just keep focused! Don't let others discourage you along the way, for you know they will certainly try. satan will see to that. I've read this book also...one of those on my shelves that I will reread when I get to it. My raeding seems real slow these days...so many books, so little desire to read, or time, or energy.
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