Chase Grace

Oooooo
September 14, 2010
I’m Goin’ Ajusment
October 7, 2010

Chase Grace

“Daddy, c’mon! Wanna chase a’ me?” She asks with a smile his heart can’t refuse. Her awkward toddler run wobbles as she shifts from left foot to right. She looks back over her shoulder and gives a clever smile, slows her run and waits for the really fun part- the whole point of the game for her- to get caught, grabbed up and hugged. She laughs like there has never been a better moment in life, and the next round begins.

“I’m a’ get chu!” she exclaims. She pursues him with intensity, but for one reason and one reason alone. “I got chu!!! You chase a’ me, Daddy?” The grass blades bend to her tiny foot prints crunching in the crisp summer grass. Now it’s his turn again to be “it” as we once said in our own childhood games of chase.

“RUN!” he says, “I’m gonna get you!” She squeals with anticipation and slyly moves away, but the truth is, she is not really trying to get away. She looks back with her sweet grin and her “run” comes to a halt. Standing in place she waits to be grabbed up and embraced again. There is no real chase. It is just a ruse for the actual goal– getting caught! We love this game. It is the pinnacle of sweetness to scoop her into our arms and hear her giggle.

As I was watching Gracie play “chase” with Doug the other evening I got to thinking about this game of “chase” with a spiritual parallel. I have heard many teachings and sermons about how the Lord pursues us. I have experienced this myself – his romantic pursuit of my heart to express his extravagant love. But while the Lord so clearly pursues us isn’t it a bit like this game of chase? He desperately wants us to pursue him too. He burns with the desire for us to chase him, grab him and embrace the free gift of grace he offers each of us.

Somehow in our human logic we forget the need to pursue God just a vigorously as he pursues us. We ignore it when it is our turn to be “it” and play chase. We make the “game” out to be harder than it is. We imagine His grace is far out of our reach— either the grace offered for our salvation, or the grace needed for just a moment of falling short in temptation, character, wisdom or any one of our daily sins. Instead of chasing grace, we construct in our minds a chasm we cannot cross. We punish ourselves for our short comings or we refuse to even acknowledge them.

What we really refuse is to grab hold of God’s grace. The self-condemned say: Who am I to deserve God’s grace? The Proud say: I do not need God’s grace! Or worse yet, I don’t need “God!” All become consumed by guilt. One so harshly judges themselves so that the guilt impedes any progress of transformation. The other so harshly judges everyone else in attempt to bury their own guilt under the shortcomings of others. No real fruit comes from there either.

I think we have all been one or the other of these at some point in time. Some of us are Self-condemning more than Proud. Others are the reverse. Or perhaps you are like me, ping-ponging back and forth between the two…

Until I see the chasm between me and God’s grace is really just a mental construct that blocks me from access to a gift he offers me freely.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

It is the free gift of God. But a wise nun once told me “A gift is not complete until it is given, received and used.” This gift has been given to you — grab it, and put it to use!

When we grab hold of God’s grace we are no longer a slave to sin. We can no longer be tortured by the accuser. We are free, forgiven and loved. When we chase after his grace and embrace it we experience it fully. That in turn allows us the capability of giving grace, mercy and forgiveness in our own worldly relationships. No more ping-ponging between self-condemnation and pride! His grace gives us the ability to navigate life more gracefully ourselves.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14) Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(Hebrews 4:16)

In our human condition is there ever a moment we are not in need of His grace? And is it not His lavish grace that then pours out of our lives into the work he has prepared for us to do?

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
(2 Corinthians 9:8)

If you “get” grace then you can get going toward that “every good work.”

If we were to look, we would see the Lord is much more like Grace in her game of chase. He pursues us. He grabs us, and then longs for us to run back after him, to grab him up and embrace his grace. And if we would only realize it, just like Gracie, he is not really running from us. There is no real chase. In fact, he is standing there, smiling. We could easily catch him if we just would reach out and grab. There he stands open armed, waiting to fill you with a mercy, joy and forgiveness freely given.

“Seek and you shall find!” God is waiting for you to seek, waiting for you to “chase” after Him because he wants to be caught! Chase after him with boldness, grab him up and feel the extravagance of all his love!

How has God pursued you in this life? Where has he grabbed hold of you? Is it your turn to run after him? I can assure you He will let you catch him quiet easily and quiet by surprise you will find a flood of his love around you. So I pray: “Run! You’re ‘it!’ Chase grace!”

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:16

Walk by Faith