Rev. 22:21

A few weeks ago, I shared my favorite illustration defining grace with our congregation and I would like to share it with you. Imagine having your car stolen. You report it to the police who tell you about of the low percentages of cars recovered or found intact. To your surprise, a few hours later you receive a call informing you that your car has been found and the thief caught. Arriving to claim your car, the police ask if you would like to press charges. Yes, you respond, he needs to be punished. We would call that justice. If you decided not to press charges believing this may be a valuable lesson, we would call that forgiveness. However if you said to the thief, why don’t you keep the car, I have another one. Also here is my credit card, use it to fill the car with gas and before you go, let’s call my auto insurance agent and place you on my insurance. That would be grace.

Living in and seeking to extend to others His grace,

Pastor Jack Abeelen