Do You Need Aggressive Grace? (Part 2)

Do You Need Aggressive Grace (Part 1) told Kalani’s and Hosea’s stories. A wealthy Buddhist businessman who was enraged over his wife’s conversion to Christ hired a hit man to kill Kalani and her pastor husband. Yet, despite her severe injuries and the loss of her husband, Kalani forgave her attacker and returned to pastor their village church. Her determination to exercise God’s radical forgiveness and aggressive grace toward those who wounded her echoed Hosea’s. At God’s command, the prophet married a promiscuous woman, forgiving her repeated unfaithfulness and refusing to divorce her.

Connections

The prophet’s longsuffering love for Gomer, despite his humiliation over her recurrent adultery, reflected God’s steadfast love for Israel despite his heartbreak over her resolute idolatry. God used Hosea’s aggressive grace toward Gomer to reveal his heartache and mercy toward an unfaithful and unrepentant Israel.

Kalani expressed the same self-giving love and grace toward her attackers that Hosea did toward Gomer. She followed Paul’s admonition.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-21 

The ancient world relied on coal for cooking and heating. So, a gift of burning coals blessed the recipient by providing for their basic needs. Rather than inflict retaliation, the generous giver hoped to inspire reconciliation with his enemy.

If passive grace refuses to return evil for evil, aggressive grace routs evil with good. Like the prophet, Kalani forgave what seemed unforgivable and then returned to the scene of her most profound pain to transform it into a place of grace.

Do You Need Aggressive Grace?

Perhaps you stand in Hosea’s or Kalani’s sandals today, recognizing your need for a fresh encounter with God’s aggressive grace. If so, you can take the first step toward healing by resolving to forgive. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting but breaking the cycle of revenge. It begins with a choice not to condone injustice but to transfer justice to God’s jurisdiction. Forgiveness emancipates us from the enslaving bonds of bitterness and empowers us to love the unlovable with God’s sacrificial love.

Daily life also provides opportunities to extend God’s relentless love and care. My husband and I once spent six weeks working with Christians in a foreign country. When Harry realized he had failed to bring enough medication, a local believer spent hours finding and delivering the needed medicine. She, too, exercised aggressive grace. Rather than count the cost to herself, she considered the price Harry would pay if he didn’t have what he needed. 

God displays his common grace daily, but some situations offer us chances to disclose his aggressive grace—to replace passive observation with an active demonstration of his self-giving love. Will you ask God to show you how to model his aggressive grace today?

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