Last night I
learned that Brennan Manning had died. I will forever be grateful to Mr.
Manning for his writing. I believe I have read his full body of work, some
books more than once, and few authors, if any, have helped me understand grace
more clearly than Brennan.
He was an
imperfect man who stumbled and limped through life. He wasn’t what many of us
would envision when we think of the ‘victorious Christian’, yet that’s exactly
what he was. He got up one more time than he stumbled, and this last time he
got up to enter into the arms of his Abba. Brennan Manning knew that he was
completely dependent on the grace of God, and the ‘relentless tenderness of
Jesus’…Only when you and I realize that too, will we truly be victorious.
Very often
as I read the writings of Mr. Manning I found myself cringing. I think grace
often does that. One would think that as we reflect on the good news of Jesus
Christ, and the grace with which he has lavished upon us, we would be quick to
embrace it. Far too often though, that isn’t the case. Sometimes grace is just
as hard to accept as it is to give. Most times we Christians talk a good game
about grace, but in practice we leave much to be desired. This is just as true
of ourselves as it is of others. We know God forgives…but does he really
forgive like that? God is full of
grace, but even when I’ve done this?
Yes…even
then. This is truly the good news. The grace of God poured out through Jesus
Christ is even more amazing than we could ever have imagined. Perhaps a cringe
is often the proper response to a grace this amazing…it is meant to astound us.
But don’t stop there. Meditate on this cringe-worthy grace…this Gospel that is
utterly unbelievable…and fall on your knees before a God who loves and forgives
in a way that is completely beyond our understanding…
Thank you
Brennan Manning for helping me to see this a little more clearly…
“Now to him
who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to
the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
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