Devotion - Wednesday, January 26

The appointed epistle readings have been from Galatians. Some have referred to Galatians as "The Magna Carta of Grace." In this letter, Paul sets forth his strongest argument for grace as the means by which we are saved, as the relationship in which we encounter God.

Grace is at once a simple thing and an extremely complex reality.

It is simple, in that comes to us as a gift. We do nothing to earn it, we do nothing to achieve it. In truth, we probably can't even seek it. It comes. We discover its presence. We rejoice in its goodness.

But how can this be? Isn't the first law of thermodynamics (paraphrased) "There is no such thing as a free lunch?" Nothing can come out of nothing. There has to be a precondition. The mere suggestion that we might get something for nothing runs against everything we have been instructed to believe.

Most of us hedge on the issue of grace. We accept it, as a concept, but we act as if it can't be trusted. We say that it is through grace that we are saved, and then we go on to point out how the actions or beliefs prevent that grace from being active in the lives of "those people."

Grace is a wonderful thing. But it is a difficult thing. It is the first (of many to follow) alteration in our lives made necessary by an awareness of God's intentions toward us. Grace demands of us that we "let go and let God."

I have read Galatians many times, and I will read it many times more. Each time, I am shocked by Paul's confidence that God could be so gracious toward me. Each time, my appreciation for what God has done is deepened. Maybe someday I will be able to set aside my misgivings and fully embrace the promise that it is not by works that we are saved, but through the grace of our Lord.