The opening piece is from “Union with Christ” – The New Finnish Interpretation of Luther.
Grace is the external good that opposes the greater evil, God’s wrath. Grace is God’s mercy and favor. This favorable and friendly attitude toward a sinner is an attitude that God has in himself. When God shows his grace, a sinner encounters not a hostile God but a merciful and favorable God. God’s favor effects in the sinner a conviction that God is gracious, and his conscience becomes joyful, secure, and fearless. According to Luther, then, grace is God’s favorable mood effecting in a sinner confidence in God’s forgiveness and benevolence. Furthermore, grace is by its nature always comprehensive: either God is favorable toward a sinner or he is not.
We can be calm and at rest for our God is merciful….because God is merciful. Unlike any of the other places and relationships in our lives that call for performance in order to gain favor, we are embraced favorably by our God…by God choosing. What a liberating place to be. Let people wage war over whether or not people can or cannot be “in the Church.” For us, it has all been left up to the mercy and favor of God whose attitude toward us is as a gracious Lord. This may be one of the reasons Luther latched onto the reality of his baptism. For in that rite, Luther, and all of us, can face the world and its many voices – and the many voices in the Church – and we can say “I am baptized” and there be embraced for life. But know again, the powers of the world don’t accept this notion of a gracious God for all.
Connection: It may be difficult to remember the power and beauty of God’s grace for life…but remember that it is always there like a treasure that is ours…ready to be used for the living of these days. Ahhh!
When our minds wander along the pathways of the many voices of our world, we can go quite mad. But you, O God, make your voice an unending love song that can move us into a new vision for life even when we can see no where to go from hear. Thanks to you this day. Amen.
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