As we learn grace, we also learn its gentleness.
When we mistakenly believed that we could win eternity by toil, we had no patience with mistakes—our own, or those of others. We feared—and judged—all brokenness, as though severity might illustrate our fitness for the kingdom. If it was difficult, then it was good.
But then the Lover of our souls announced His grace while we were mired in our sins—while we were, in His word, “undone.” “God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Our foolish self-redemption project becomes, at last, the task that makes both men and angels softly laugh. We learn, at last, as the apostle wrote, “Christ is all” (Col 3:11).
The kindness Jesus offers us becomes the gentleness we offer others. In time, we learn how to repent of all that isn’t grace.
So stay in grace.