Talk of Grace
by Michael Doyle

It is all of us, the body of people
Found under God's holy steeple
That makes us wonder about grace
Undeserved in favor, yet we know our place

Clearly, His church is most attractive
Where grace is found and is most apparent
Living lives that are quiet and reflective
In the love given, and is lived transparent

We are called out to learn great things
That the world itself too seldom brings
But can be readily found in God's story
Praised be His holy name and His glory

It's that grace that removes the stains
And it cuts against the fibrous grains
All of us under the temple are flawed
But, by God's grace, we are not outlawed

Broken sinners who've found their way to love
Given freely from the grace of God above
As new creations, we walk this strained land
With abounding love that can be hard to understand

It's a journey of constant reconciliation
Every step of the way toward our revealed destination
Regardless of the sins that we commit
Our faults are covered as God chooses to forget

Truth holds this all in its counterbalance
Giving us no excuse for any dalliance
Believers must respect God's holy Word
Always and forever moving forward

God's truth is not shed as a path of humiliation
Aimed at shame not needed godly toleration
In God's view, there is no condemnation game
Taking on the image of God holds little blame

There in the trap-like questions that lead to accusation
The Pharisees' attempts to frame lead to frustration
No one knows what it is that Jesus quietly wrote
But there's something to learn from and take note

Slowing our speak to find the subtle and right ways
We must righteously think on what it is we say
There is much to learn from the ages coming before
If we listen more than speak, we might learn more

God's law was fulfilled on the cross where Jesus died
As the earth quaked and the despairing angels cried
And we under this steeple, we're charged to do right
In God's goodness, and in the truth of His holy light

The wages of sin are and continue to be death
But with God's grace, our reprieve gives us breath
Believing in the truth that Jesus died for us all
And all we need do is repent, confess, and recall

(c) September 17, 2023   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved