The startling grace of God

The grip of God upon humanity is incomparable to any other strength. As we do not think about breathing or a heart beating, so we don’t often think about God’s startling grace. It is startling grace because as soon as we think that we are out of reach He is there holding us in the fold of His wounded hands.

The parable of the vineyard in Matthew 20 is an example of this startling grace. Men are invited to work at different times of the day. Some worked in the heat of the day for eight hours and others for an hour in the twilight. The master rewarded them all with the same wage. God’s grace startles us because we are achievement oriented in our understanding of God. We think God is unfair. If God was fair we would all be lost in Hell forever. The Father was unfair to His Son by striking Him, so God can be gracious to us. Thank God He is merciful and “startling”.

In blood drenched love the Lord Jesus sacrificed himself for your sins to be forgiven. As we cling to His gaping wounds of momentous mercy we can live hopefully and die confidently. Every day is an opportunity to serve God, not under a whip, but under a Father’s hand. Our neighbor needs our good works. God is fully satisfied by the work of His Son for us.

Easter triumph and Easter joy are yours by God’s startling grace coming alive on Easter Sunday for you. Jesus’ cross was full of your sin and His tomb is empty for your victory. Your eternal safekeeping rests not with the Easter bunny but with the Lamb of God who takes your sins away. One child got it right on Easter Day when he said, “Silly rabbit, Easter is about Jesus!” Another child was right when He proclaimed to the grocery clerk, “Did you know Jesus got away?” One of the preschool children was asked what was his greatest dream. He said, “The first great dream was my mom hugging me, and the second was when my mom cleans up my mess.” Jesus gives us a great hug on Easter and cleans up all our mess by His cross. So live, work and worship Him whose “startling” grace is enough.

See you Sunday.

(Grace Lutheran Church is located at 711 N. Fowler St. Bishop. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (760) 872-9791.)