I have a tattoo. I got it when the Lord was intent on getting me to glimpse the depth of His grace. The tattoo is a Hebrew word that means “grace without reserve.” My tattooist slowly and painfully added ink to my flesh on April Fool’s Day, which I think is fitting because who really buys into this concept of grace without end anyways? Only a fool.

I have heard grace most often defined as “unmerited favor.” I appreciate the minimalism of that definition; to display grace is to have preference towards someone who is completely undeserving of such esteem. An irony exists between the simplicity of grace’s meaning and the difficulty one finds in receiving its truth and outpouring.

What if it’s all true? What if God really did love us to the point that no matter what we were to do in this life we would still be favored by Him? No matter what hateful words are found on our tongues or self-gratifying plots exposed in our minds? Our churches teach grace but only in moderation— because we expect that a prevailing belief in God’s unwarranted kindness will unleash mayhem. We think grace will be used as ammo for doing atrocious things (teens will murder, businessmen will embezzle, and housewives will steal). But these conclusions are illogical.

If I long for the favor of another and then find someone who gives just that— loves, accepts, and values me— then I’m going to favor in return. I find this an already existing pattern in my life: I like people who like me. I try to please people who value me, who are proud of me, who encourage me. In fact, it is not rational to receive the high esteem and preference of someone only to turn around and do things that most offend or hurt. Instead, it is instinctive to strive even further and more purposefully to be seen favorable in that person’s viewpoint.

What if Jesus Christ really is a God of grace without reserve? Our lives would be turned upside down, irrevocably changed by the notion that we are loved and valued. That we are first pick and always accepted, in fact preferred. I guess we’d all look like fools with permanent marks made by His love and grace.

That wouldn’t be so bad.