“Grace is God’s best idea. His decision to ravage a people by love, to rescue passionately, and to restore justly—what rivals it? Of all his wondrous works, grace, in my estimation, is the magnum opus.”

Max Lucado writes this claim in this first paragraph of his book, Grace (More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine). He is speaking in terms of Christianity.  If that’s really God’s best idea, why is so hard to embrace?  Or believe?

We communicate as if we clearly understand the term. The bank provides us with a period of grace. The deceitful politician or immoral preacher falls from grace. Musicians commonly use the phrase grace note. When describing an actress we use the term gracious, while for a dancer, we use graceful. Grace is a word that holds multiple meanings in both religious and secular contexts. But do we truly know it?

In eleven chapters, Lucado delves into how grace is perceived through the eyes of God. Using biblical examples and personal stories, he illustrates that God’s grace is constant, regardless of the situation.

I wanted to read this book and write a review because of actor and singer Tyrese Gibson’s Youtube response to his ex-wife’s podcast interview about their failed marriage. I won’t write about whether he was right to confront her so forcefully or express which side the public should take in this ongoing divorce. Regrettably, another instance of a celebrity marriage being scrutinized in the public sphere, when it should have remained confidential. The existence of a content creation industry derived from this type of content reinforces the importance of God’s grace in our lives.

We need grace more than ever and Lucado’s book creates a starting point on how we can receive that quality into our lives daily. Many skeptics of Christianity would reject the idea of reading a book like this. I encourage you to explore the concept of grace and consider its relevance in a secular context. Both religious and secular individuals can unite around the concept of grace, which is crucial for our society.

Lucado’s book connects with me because of his storytelling and theological principles. Grace (More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine) is a book that will resonate with readers as it delves into a fundamental Christian concept. Well done, Max.