The grace of God is the most stunning and exciting concept that any human being can grasp. John Newton wrote “Amazing grace how sweet the sound”. Bono in his song Grace hit it on the head “Its a thought that changed the world.” It certainly has changed my world. It was said of Jesus that he was “full of Grace and truth.” Of course some of the religious leaders of his day didn't like to know the truth but nobody ever questioned his grace. It was his gracefulness that drew the ordinary people to him and unfortunately it is the lack of grace in the modern church which drives people away from him. Jesus was known as the friend of sinners - what a title! The church was founded on the great principal of grace but unfortunately it has floundered because it has meandered carelessly off the road and into man made religion.

I believe every Christian in his or her walk needs a grace awakening because we have been so conditioned to listening to a performance Gospel of dos and dont’s which is no gospel at all. When people keep a set of rules and regulations laid down by religion, grace becomes nullified.

The truth is that when awakened to grace we see God in a whole different light. God accepts me as I am, warts and all. His unconditional love helps me to accept that I am what I am. This thought pattern helps me to love and accept myself so I can live my life freely and to the full without people or God putting me under pressure to live up to somebody I am not. Of course during my lifetime God will try to change me by his Holy Spirit, showing me things in the scriptures that I need to put right, renewing my mind and generally making me more like his Son Jesus Christ. This I accept and am excited about because the more he does this the more grace he gives me to revolutionise my life . . . it’s good news.

Jesus asked us to “Love others as you love yourself”. God’s grace also helps me to accept others as Jesus sees them, both Christians and unbelievers. If I believe “Jesus loves sinners” is the gospel of grace, then I must love them unconditionally too - that means to love family, friends, acquaintances and enemies. Abraham Lincoln said “When you make friends with your enemies you have no enemies.” That is the way I see things now. Grace sees beauty in everyone.

God’s grace also gives me a different view of the world. God gets angry about injustice, poverty, corruption, homelessness, unfair trade etc etc. and all the ugly things we see going on in this world, and I do fervently believe that we as Christians should be getting informed and angry and upset about these issues too - read the likes of Isaiah chapter 58 for example. Grace gives me the conviction that although I can’t change the world I can change part of it and make things right in any measure I can. I believe in the Kingdom come, that Jesus will set things right and perhaps he will ask why we didn’t use our money, influence and energy to try to bring about a better world in the here and now. There are a lot of references in the Bible about the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the weak, the hungry, the widows and orphans, etc. and as a Christian I should have a vision to help them as best I can.

If you want to find out more about the working of grace and freedom, I would suggest you read Galatians and find out for yourself. Good books will also help, the ones that have directed me on my path of grace are The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba’s Child both written by Brennan Manning, and What’s so Amazing about Grace by Philip Yancey. Rich Mullins music and life has also been a big influence on me, especially a documentary video about him called Homeless Man and his biography An Arrow pointing to Heaven.

So forget about the X Factor - God is looking for the grace factor in each of us. I hope grace comes through in the lyrics of my songs. I know sometimes my life does lack grace but I hope I keep getting back on track.

Last week me and my wife Sandra and our two youngest kids, Grace (5) and Jack (3) were out for a walk. Grace ran on about a hundred yards ahead of us and climbed this gate and was sitting on the top of it when a couple of strangers came by. They started talking to her and by the time we got to them they were engrossed in conversation. This gave me a notion about a song called Glad I Met You Grace.

Grace, she talks to anyone / Shining brighter than the midday sun / She goes to places I have never been / She shows her face to the obscene / She loves just like a lover does / Her wisdom takes her high above / The realms of earth and time and space / Oh I’m glad I met you grace.

Ned Kelly