"Grace has a Name" | April 13, 2025 | Ps Joel Lowery

In a world that often feels driven by achievement and merit, there's a profound truth that can revolutionize how we view ourselves and others: grace is not just a concept, it's a person. And that person is Jesus.

This revelation strikes at the core of what it means to be loved by God. It's not about how much we love Him, but about how deeply and relentlessly He loves us. This shift in perspective can change everything - how we think, how we pray, and how we live.

Consider the stories Jesus told to illustrate the nature of God's love. There's the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to find one that's lost. From a practical standpoint, this makes little sense. Who would risk 99 for the sake of one? But this is precisely the point. God's love defies human logic. It's extravagant, even seemingly wasteful in its pursuit of the lost.

Then there's the woman who turns her house upside down searching for one lost coin out of ten. Again, the emphasis is on the value God places on what others might consider insignificant. In God's economy, the one is worth everything.

But perhaps the most poignant illustration is the story of the prodigal son. Here we see a father who gives his son his inheritance early (an illogical act in itself), only to have that son squander it all. Yet when the son returns, broken and humbled, the father doesn't wait for an explanation or demand penance. Instead, he runs to embrace his child, throwing a celebration for his return.

These stories paint a picture of a God who is not sitting back waiting for us to get our act together. He's actively pursuing us, even when - especially when - we're at our worst. This is the heart of grace.

It's easy to love the idea of being the "one" God pursues when we're lost. But what happens when we find ourselves among the "99"? Do we become complacent, content to stay in the safety of the fold? Or do we join the search party, venturing out with Jesus to find others who are lost?

This is the challenge and the invitation. Once we've experienced the transformative power of God's grace, we're called to extend that same grace to others. We're not meant to simply bask in the warmth of God's love, but to become channels of that love to a world desperately in need of it.

The Apostle John seemed to grasp this truth deeply. Throughout his gospel, he refers to himself as "the one whom Jesus loved." Far from being arrogant, this identity was rooted in a profound understanding of God's heart. John had experienced firsthand the love of Jesus, and it became the core of who he was.

This same identity is available to each of us. We are the ones whom Jesus loves. Not because of what we've done or how good we are, but simply because it's His nature to love. This love is what moved Jesus to action when Mary and Martha sent word that their brother Lazarus was sick. They didn't appeal to Lazarus's merits or their own faithfulness. They simply said, "Lord, the one you love is sick." And Jesus responded.

Understanding this changes how we approach God. We don't come to Him with a list of our accomplishments or good deeds. We come as beloved children, confident in His love for us. This is the foundation of our relationship with Him.

But this grace, this love, comes at a cost. As we approach Easter, we're reminded of the ultimate demonstration of God's love - Jesus' death on the cross. The apostle John puts it this way: "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10, NLT).

This sacrificial love is what we remember when we take communion. We recall that Jesus left the 99 to find us. We were lost, but because of His grace, we're now found. And having experienced this love, we're invited to join the search party, to go back out and find others who need to experience this same grace.

Living in the reality of God's love changes everything. It shifts our focus from our own performance to His perfection. It frees us from the endless cycle of trying to earn God's favor and allows us to rest in His acceptance. And it empowers us to extend that same grace to others, even when they don't deserve it - especially when they don't deserve it.

This is the heart of the gospel. It's not primarily about us loving God, but about God loving us. It's about a Father who runs to embrace His wayward children. It's about a Shepherd who considers one lost sheep worth leaving the 99 for. It's about a love that pursues, that never gives up, that celebrates wildly when the lost are found.

As we reflect on this incredible love, may we be filled with gratitude. May we find our identity not in what we do, but in who we are - the beloved of God. And may we be moved to action, joining God in His relentless pursuit of the lost and broken.

For in the end, grace is not just a concept to be understood. It's a Person to be encountered, a love to be experienced, and a mission to be joined. This is the heart of grace. This is the heart of God.