When Jesus said that he came "to preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18), he meant the accent of the gospel was for the poor. The word 'poor' does not simply mean poverty but all who suffer -- the unfortunate, wretched, wronged, oppressed, crippled, lame, leprous, demonized. The gospel is for those who have been left abandoned in the world.
As Brennan Manning says the gospel of grace is "for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other. It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it altogether and are too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace."
"It is for the inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker. It is for the poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents."
"It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay. It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God."
"It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags."
His grace is for me.
His grace is for you.
His grace is for anyone who has grown weary and discouraged along the Journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment