Wise men and women have long held that happiness lies in being yourself without inhibitions. Let the Great Rabbi hold you silently against His heart. In learning who He is, you will find out who you are: Abba’s child in Christ our Lord.  Brennan Manning

This journey through Brennan Manning’s classic, Abba’s Child, has been quite the adventure for me. I can honestly tell you that everything is changing and churning inside me as I’ve allowed the Holy Spirit to empower some of the amazing truths found in this book.

Honestly, my core identity is being transformed along this journey to becoming Abba’s child. I’m no longer who I once thought I was. I’m much freer to be myself. Much more equipped to live this life the way God intended me to live.

Could it be that Brennan Manning is right?

Could it be that as I choose to be still and thus, allow the Great Rabbi to hold me silently against His heart, I can actually learn much better who the Master actually is?

Could it be that as I experience the loving presence of the Great Rabbi in increased ways, I can learn much better who I am as well?

Could it be that happiness does lie in finding myself, in Jesus, without any inhibitions?

Could it be that a fat guy from Iowa, who once thought he knew everything he needed to know about grace, is being born from above all over again?

Could it be that a recovering 3-B pastor, who once was consumed with finding success in ministry through externals such as (B)uildings, (B)ucks, and (B)utts in the seats, can now redefine success in ministry by simply learning how to live in and through God’s Gospel of Grace?

Could it be that the Good News of Jesus’ Gospel can be stated as simply as this?

We are loved by God. We are His beloved sons and daughters.

We are liked by God. We are His forever friends.

God is right here, right now. We are not alone.

The Gospel of Grace motivates us to positive life-change through God’s unconditional love and acceptance, while religion seeks to motivate using guilt and shame. Without the Gospel of Grace, we’re left to find our own way out of darkness. With it, our Heavenly Father literally loves the darkness out of us. The Gospel of Grace demonstrates to us that Jesus of Nazareth can lead us into Eternal Truth, and the Holy Spirit can indwell & empower us to live freely and lightly as beloved sons and daughters of God.

I hope so. I pray so. I believe so.

As I see it, once you and I allow ourselves to be held silently next to the beating heart of the Great Rabbi, we will hear a different rhythm than we’ve been hearing before. The Gospel of Grace has a beat all its own. It redefines life. It restores peace. It restructures ministry. It breathes new life.

Without a doubt, the Gospel of Grace is redefining my Christianity. It’s simplifying the way I pray and play. It’s allowing me to tear up my score sheet on life. It’s encouraging me to no longer look at people around me the way I once did. I’m beginning to see folks through the eyes of grace. And when that happens, I begin to see Abba’s child in everyone I meet.

I pray this same Gospel of Grace is shaking things up for you as well. Redefining success. Restoring hope. Breathing life within. Bringing life and liberty where there was once stuffy thinking and a hopeless confinement to rules and regulations.

We, my friends, are Abba’s children. Greatly loved. Greatly liked. Not alone.

His work of making ALL things new is underway in us. With that in mind, let’s keep journeying together. Let’s keep exploring the depths of these astounding truths. Let’s see how amazing, grace really is. For His Name’s sake.

My prayer:  My loving Father in heaven, glorify and magnify Your Holy name. Your Kingdom presence come. Abba’s will be done, here on this planet, just as Your will is always done in heaven. Give us today our complete provision as Abba’s children. Forgive my self-centeredness and self-consumption as I, by grace alone, forgive others who are equally self-centered and self-consumed. Lead me on Your paths of righteousness. Deliver me from evil. For You, Abba, own it all. The Kingdom. The Power. The Glory. Forever and ever. Amen.

My questions to ponder: What will it look like to continue my journey into God’s Gospel of Grace? As Abba’s child, dearly loved, greatly liked, and never alone, how can I become an agent of grace, encouraging others in simplifying their lives, allowing Abba to come to them with His unconditional love and acceptance?

So what is God speaking to you today as you live as Abba’s child in the midst of His Gospel of Grace?

THANK YOU for joining us in this deeper look at God’s Gospel of Grace; Exploring the Good News of God’s Unconditional Love & Acceptance. We used Brennan Manning’s classic book, Abba’s Child – The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging as our guide. In order to keep all the blog sessions organized for the future, we suggest you bookmark our Gospel of Grace home page for ease of use. 

• Read more about adding in one of our devotional studies from our popular As I See It blog series. These short devotional readings will serve you well in the caring for your soul.