What does grace look like?

In the operating room of our small mission hospital nestled among the rice fields, Tida was an excellent scrub tech, attentive and alert to every move of my gloved hand. She was observant and moved quickly to do what was needed! She was also observant about life. Between cases during “downtime” we had a few opportunities to chat.

“So, what do you think about God?” I asked her once. “Well, Christianity does not make much sense to me,” she replied. “What do you mean?” “I see my Christian friends do something wrong (sin), then they ask for forgiveness. Then they do the same thing all over again—and ask for forgiveness again. It is too easy. In Buddhism, we have to work hard to make merit (to do enough good to outweigh the bad). Your religion seems silly to me.” And so the discussions continued over the years.

Paul left Titus behind on Crete to organize the new believers and to appoint elders. After giving him instructions and encouragement, he reminds Titus of the basis for all this: the grace of God. But what does “the grace of God appeared” mean? Surely grace appeared in the words, life and ministry of Jesus Christ. But it also continues to appear as we serve in His name.

Tida and I did not see each other for many years. Then one day we met again—and she told me that she had been baptised recently! What had happened? She explained that her early skepticism melted away as she kept observing the work of the hospital and the lives of the Christians around her, especially her friends who had become believers.

Tida heard grace explained—and it made no sense. She saw grace in people’s lives (grace in action)—and it led her to Christ and transformed her life.

Prayer: Lord, May my life mirror Your grace and truth. Amen