In the movie "The Dark Night", a new kind of criminal is introduced to Gotham City, the Joker. The Joker's criminal ideology baffles even the most seasoned of law enforcement. There is a madness, without rhyme or reason, to how the Joker operates. It becomes an effective tool in breaking down structure and order. Those who abide by rules, reason, and systems are found desperately scrambling to preserve their own life and abandon the order they once believed to be their security.

It reminded me of Grace. The central qualifier of grace is that it is undeserved, and unearned. It's free. Grace is unmerited favor. It's free to model citizens, free to juvenile delinquents, and free to hardened psychopathic killers. Grace is the one element in this world that keeps us guessing. It doesn't fit within natural order. It doesn't add up fairly. It causes us to rethink revenge. It softens even the darkest heart. It leaves us humbled. It breaks through all of our rules, order, reasoning and logic.

There are many systems of belief that preach love, acceptance or good behavior, but only Jesus bases His whole movement on grace. Grace is from God, it is part of who he is, and it is how he chooses to relate to mankind. There is nothing earned about the salvation Jesus offers, salvation is based solely on the grace of God. (Eph. 2:8)

Back to Gotham City. The only thing that counteracts the Joker's chaotic scheme is when people start acting with grace. I won't give up the movie if you haven't seen it, but there is one seen toward the end where people stop thinking about themselves and start acting with grace. It is through their sacrificial, unexpected, and unreasonable attitude that grace is introduced, and hope is restored.

The only thing that counteracts the pain, suffering, brokenness, and sin in this world is the grace of God! Here is your Grace To Do List.

1) Start a journey today to understand the grace of God better through studying it in the Bible.

2) Allow grace to heal your personal wounds and sin. This will allow you to become a powerful agent of grace to an ungraceful world.

3) Look around you for areas where God is pouring his love into your life, and praise him with thanksgiving.

4) Make it a point in your day to act in grace to others. Use grace to counteract the brokenness and suffering of the world around you. Live grace in every small way you can......

the world is thirsty for it.

(Eph. 1:7)

-Josh