Best-selling author, more than 60 books, latest, GRACE: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine (2012)
Sold more than 80 million books in 25 years of writing
Dubbed, “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today and “America’s Best Preacher” by Reader’s Digest
Currently serving as Minister of Preaching, Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, TX, since 1988
BA, Mass Communications, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
MA: Biblical and Related Studies, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
Positions held include:
Associate Minister, Central Church of Christ, Miami, FL;
Church Planning Missionary, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Married to Denalyn, 3 grown daughters.
GUEST BIO
Max Lucado: Praying for God's Grace in America
By
The 700 Club
CBN.com-GOD’S BEST IDEA
“Grace is God’s best idea,” Max Lucado explains. “His decision to ravage people by love, to rescue passionately, and restore justly—what rivals it? Of all his wondrous works, grace, in my estimation, is the magnum opus.” The best-selling author explores the topic of grace, not just what is, but what it does. “I’m not just talking about what it means for us in terms of being forgiven and going to heaven, but also what it means for the changes in our hearts and attitudes,” Lucado says. “Grace is the voice that calls us to change, and then gives us the power to pull it off.” He says whether you’re looking for the meaning of life, or pondering the wasted years and poor choices of your life, God answers the mess of life with one word: grace. “We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful,” he says. In using the term so freely, we might be missing the point, or at least watering it down. “My hunch: we’ve settled for wimpy grace.”
While most Christians would say they believe in grace, Lucado wanted to ask deeper questions like, “Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace?” He continues: “God’s grace has wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it.” He says when grace, true grace, happens we don’t receive a nice compliment from God, but a new heart. “Give your heart to Christ, and he returns the favor. ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you’ (Ezek. 36:26).” Lucado says it took him many years to discover this truth. “I believed all the other prepositions: Christ for me, with me, ahead of me. And I knew I was working beside Christ, under Christ, with Christ. But I never imagined that Christ was in me.” He notes that no other religion or philosophy makes such a claim. “No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers. Muhammad does not indwell Muslims. Buddha does not inhabit Buddhists. The Christian is a person in whom Christ is happening.”
Lucado says that while we validate our existence with a flurry of activity, doing more and trying to achieve more, we’re ultimately wrestling with the idea, “Do I matter?” He says God has the answer. “All of grace, I believe, is God’s definitive reply. ‘Be blessed, my child. I accept you. I have adopted you into my family.’ Adopted children are chosen children,” he says. “To accept God’s grace is to accept God’s offer to be adopted into his family. Your identity is not in your possessions, talents, tattoos, kudos, or accomplishments. Nor are you defined by your divorce, deformity, debt, or dumb choices. You are God’s child. You get to call him ‘Papa. You ‘may approach God with freedom and confidence’ (Eph. 3:12 NIV). You receive the blessings of his special love (1 John 4:9–11) and provision (Luke 11:11– 13). And you will inherit the riches of Christ and reign with him forever (Rom. 8:17).”
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