Grace

I'm doing a devotional series called "When Worldviews Collide"; basically it's about the differences between what Christians believe and what followers of other world religions believe, and how we as Christians can effectively (and compassionately) witness. Also gives a pretty indepth review of the religions so that we know what we're talking about. So far it's really interesting. The man who wrote it is a former Muslim who was disowned by his family after coming to Christ, so his testimony carries some weight. Anyway, today's lesson was on grace and how no other belief system offers it; sounds pretty pedestrian. I just wanted to share how this author defines grace (everything in quotes is his, not mine).

"For many of us who came to Christianity from another world religion, grace is a profound and startling principle. We were taught that we must live and die by our works. We grew up with the constant terror of the balancing scales. We learned to face death with loathing because we knew we were unprepared for judgment...Do you mean that Christ has given me the means for my salvation? Are you saying that I cannot be good enough? Do you honestly teach that where God knows I am incapable, He instead provides His blood as my means of salvation?....As a former Muslim who was taught that paradise is promised for those who die fighting in the cause of Islam, I will put it in the most graphic terms: By grace Jesus Christ strapped Himself to a cross so that I would not have to strap a bomb to myself."

That blew me away.