A grace-filled church is filled with people who (1) are gratefully astounded by God’s undeserved goodness to them; (2) are outrageously good to others even to those who deserve the opposite; (3) are passionately involved in telling the story of God’s outrageous grace to those who have not yet experienced it.

In Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Sons (Luke 15), the father (representing God) is outrageously gracious and good to a son who was lost in his sin and to another son who was lost in his self-righteousness.

Parents sometimes hold their baby in front of the mirror and ask, “Who’s that?” It’s a special moment when the child, for the first time, realizes he/she is looking at themself. It’s as if the light comes on when they understand, “That’s ME!”

As we ponder the story of the prodigal sons, it is an important moment when I look at both of them and recognize myself and acknowledge, “That’s ME!”

I am the lost child who walked away from my heavenly Father. I’m the lost child who was welcomed home by my grace-filled heavenly Father. And I am the self-righteous child who fails to recognize that I too am lost in my self-righteous pride, and as far away from the heart of my Father than when I was lost in my selfish sinfulness.

Once I understand the outrageous grace of God to me when I did not deserve it, I must be willing to give the same outrageous grace to those whom I believe do not deserve it.

Who is the person for whom you have the hardest time being grace-filled? What will you do?