Mentoring Questions > > Is Grace Real for Me?
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Is Grace Real for Me?
Grace was genuine, real, personal, and palpable to the great saints. Brother Lawrence, Frank Laubach, Francois Fenelon—these Christian mystics had no doubt they were the constant recipients of God's amazing grace. Grace was a practical part of their everyday life. For example, Brother Lawrence said that when he made a mistake he didn't spend any time thinking about it; he just confessed it and moved on. He reminded God that without him, to fall is natural. Before I read that, I lingered over guilt. Immediate grace was too good to be true. Brother Lawrence's experience greatly released me.
Nevertheless, legalism appeals to our common sense. I find it necessary to remind myself that the very Scripture that makes me know my guilt lets me know God's grace. By refusing grace, we play God and punish ourselves. We view events as punishment. We see discipline coming when in reality it isn't discipline, it's just a consequence, but we try to read into it God's judgment.
Why? Because we feel we deserve judgment rather than grace. Grace brings freedom. If only we could accept grace fully, then we, like Brother Lawrence, could have the freedom to admit failure and move on. Since grace cannot be deserved, why should I feel others are more worthy of it than I?
