Again, Marva Dawn writes, commenting on Ephesians 2:10:
“Once again we are astounded by the vision, this entirely new perception of our daily existence, of what we are and how we live as a result of God’s incomprehensible, mysterious, overwhelming grace. What bliss it is to discover that since God has dealt with our deadness (totally because of his character!), we are, therefore, a work of art! It is such an unfathomable change: from casket to fresh creation, from colorlessness to craftmanship, from deadness to great deeds, already planned by God for us to fulfill. God has choreographed the ballet and set us free to dance. Oh, the ecstasy of dancing when Someone has given us new feet and formed them in his steps!” (The Unnecessary Pastor, 155)
I am starting to like Marva Dawn more and more as you quote her. She has the ability to capture her audience and draw them into a “conversation” with her and her writings. She brings a fresh and new perspective. Praise God for her! And, she writes that God has “set us free to dance”. What beautiful imagery. He has set us free and we are to form our steps in His. What great encouragemet babe!
Marva Dawn is masterful in her use of words and imagery. She doesn’t use short pithy stories to drive home a point, instead her intentional and purposeful use of words makes the point, or actually draws one into the point, participating with the point. She is a good example to all preachers. In an earlier chapter, she discussed her frustration with editors because she will spend extended amounts of time to pick just the right word, then they go through and flipantly change it. I do highly commend her writings to any and all leaders in the church; she truly is a gift to the church.
What a great gift to Christ’s church…