Wednesday, May 18, 2011

As of lately, I've been thinking about the furious love of God.

These words are not my own. Okay, so a few of them are, but mostly they are the words of an extremely gifted author, who if you're unfamiliar with... you should become familiar with him just as soon as possible; Brennan Manning.

'Justification by grace through faith' | 'the furious love of God'.

He is not moody or capricious {impulsive, unpredictable}; He knows no seasons of change.
He has a single relentless stance toward us: He loves us.
He is the only God man has ever heard of who loves sinners.
The Father of Jesus loves all, no matter what they do. But of course this is almost too incredible for us to accept.
Nevertheless, through no merit of ours, but by His mercy, we have been restored to a right relationship with God through the life, death and resurrection of His beloved Son. This is the Good News, the gospel of grace.

While reading Matthew 9.9-13 you find Jesus actively portraying this gospel of grace.

'As he moved on, Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his post where taxes were collected. He said to him, 'Follow me.' Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened that, while Jesus was at the table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and those known as sinners came to join Jesus and his disciples at dinner. The Parisees saw this and complained to his disciples, 'What reason can the Teacher have for eating with tax collectors and those who disregard the law?' Overhearing their remark, he said, 'People who are in good health do not need a doctor; sick people do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice.' I have come not to call the self-righteous but sinners.'

Over and over again we find the beautiful nugget of truth (one that's so easy to overlook!)

Jesus comes for sinners.

He comes for the outcasts and those caught up in poor decisions and failed dreams.
He comes for corporate executives, street people superstars, farmers, hookers, addicts, IRS agents, AIDS victims, and even used car salesmen. Jesus not only talks with these people, but he dines with them. He shares life with them. He does this fully aware of the religious bureaucrats who hold high the tokens of their authority to justify their condemnation of the truth and their rejection of the gospel of grace.

Ah, this topic deserves much more time and attention, but it's a great piece to think on throughout your day.