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A Scandalous Proposition!

When Grace Collides with Human Weakness

By Morris Wambua

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The Paradox of Grace

In a world where merit is king, where every achievement is meticulously tallied, and worth is calculated by the weight of one’s deeds, there exists a profound paradox—one that challenges our conventional understanding of value and worth. This paradox is called grace, and it stands in stark contrast to the merit-based systems that dominate our lives. Grace is the divine gift that transcends all human effort and logic, defeats legalism, and consistently triumphs over merit, turning the tables on what we believe we deserve.

The Weight of a Merit-Based World

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Imagine the weight of living in a world where every step is measured, every action scrutinized, and every failure amplified. It’s a world many of us know all too well—a world where worthiness is a currency, earned through sleepless nights, endless toil, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. We are taught to believe that our value is tied to our accomplishments, that love must be earned, and that acceptance is conditional. But what happens when we fall short? When our best efforts aren’t enough? When the world turns its back on us in our moment of greatest need? Grace is not just a concept; it is a lifeline. It is the outstretched hand of a loving God who meets us in our brokenness, in our failures, in our deepest shame. Grace is the voice that whispers, “You are loved, not because of what you’ve done, but because of who you are.” It is the balm for the weary soul, the refuge for the broken-hearted, the hope for the hopeless. Grace becomes the constant reminder that God's love for me is not dependent on my performance. Agape love. Boundless love. Unconditional love.

A Scandalous Proposition

Grace is God’s unearned, unmerited favor—a gift so freely given that it leaves us baffled and humbled. Where merit demands effort, sweat, and relentless striving, grace asks for nothing in return. Where merit meticulously tallies our good deeds and our failings, grace tears up the checklist. It is a scandalous proposition in a world obsessed with fairness and justice, yet it is the cornerstone of God’s kingdom.
A Portrait of Grace

The story of grace has been told throughout the ages, a thread that beautifully weaves through the fabric of human history. It is the story of a God who loves His creation so deeply that He is willing to go to unimaginable lengths to redeem it. It is the story of a love so profound that it defies all logic, a love that is offered freely, without condition or merit. The parable of the prodigal son is a tale that resonates with the heart of grace. Here's a young man, blinded by arrogance and consumed by desire, demanding his inheritance from his father. It is a request that cuts deep. It is an outright rejection of his father’s love and authority. With pockets full of gold and a heart full of folly, he sets off to a distant land, where he squanders his wealth in wild living. But as the gold slips through his fingers, so does his sense of worth, and soon, he finds himself destitute, feeding pigs and longing for the scraps that fall from their troughs.

A Father’s Extravagant Love

Definitely, we all would agree that the prodigal son deserves nothing but scorn and judgment when he returns home, penniless and broken. He has failed by every standard of merit—he has disrespected his father, wasted his
resources, and lived a life of sin. But as he approaches his father’s house, rehearsing his apology, something extraordinary happens. His father, seeing him from a distance, does the unthinkable—he runs to him. This is no dignified stroll; this is a sprint, a reckless, desperate dash to embrace his lost son. The father throws his arms around him, kissing him, weeping with joy. There is no lecture, no rebuke, no demand for restitution—only love, pure and unadulterated. “Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found.” This is grace in its purest form. It is a love that welcomes the undeserving, that rejoices over the return of the lost, that celebrates the unworthy. It is a love that refuses to keep score, that does not hold grudges, that knows no bounds. Grace is the father who runs to embrace his wayward child, who clothes him in dignity, who restores him to his place at the table. It is a love that is irrational, extravagant, and utterly overwhelming.
The world tells us that we must earn our way to God’s favor, that we must prove our worth, that we must clean ourselves up before we can approach the throne of grace. But the gospel tells us the opposite. It tells us that we come as we are—broken, dirty, and unworthy—and that God meets us there, in our mess, with arms wide open. It tells us that grace is not something we can earn; it is a gift that is given freely, out of the abundance of God’s love.

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Grace in the Here and Now

Grace is the great equalizer. It levels the playing field and shatters the illusion that we can earn our way to God’s favor. It reminds us that no matter how far we have strayed or how deeply we have failed, God’s grace is greater still. It is the thread that runs through every story of redemption, every tale of a life turned around—not because of what we have done, but because of what God has done for us. It is the story of the addict who finds freedom,not because of his own strength, but because of the grace that lifts him from the pit. It is the story of the prisoner who discovers redemption behind bars, not because he has paid his debt to society, but because grace has paid the
debt he could never repay. It is the story of the broken marriage that is healed, not because the wounds were shallow, but because grace is deeper still.
Even the Apostle Paul, who penned much of the NewTestament, knew this paradox well. Before his conversion, Paul was known as Saul, a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians with fervor. He was, by his own admission, “the chief of sinners.” Yet, on the road to Damascus, Paul encountered the risen Christ, and his life was forever changed. “By the grace of God, I am what I am,” Paul later wrote to the Corinthians. He became one of the greatest advocates for Christ, not by his own merit, but by the grace that transformed him. Grace is often described as “unbounded” and “limitless,” but these terms only scratch the surface of its true nature. It’s a divine quality that defies human limitations and surpasses every conceivable boundary. Grace operates beyond the constraints of time and space, extending to every person, in every situation, regardless of their past or present. It’s a force that transforms lives not because of our inherent worth but because of the nature of God’s love. It is this boundless grace that reaches into the darkest corners of our existence, illuminating even the most hidden and painful aspects of our lives with a light that cannot be extinguished.Grace meets us at our lowest points, embracing us when we feel most unworthy, and lifting us when we are at our weakest. It does not wait for us to clean ourselves up or to become better versions of ourselves. Instead, it embraces us as we are, with all our imperfections and failures, and begins the process of transformation from within. This is the essence of grace: a love that sees beyond our shortcomings and believes in our potential, not based on what we have done but on who we are becoming in the embrace of divine love. On the altar of our gracious father, mistakes are made into miracles. What a scandalous proposal! God's grace is the foundation of our faith, the source of our hope, and the essence of our love. Let us live in the light of grace, and let that grace shine through us in all that we do. To truly embrace the gift of grace, we must open our hearts and minds to the redeeming, and transformative power of God's love!















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