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Evidence of Grace: The Imperfect Journey to Perfection by Raymond J Moore

Evidence of Grace: The Imperfect Journey to Perfection by Raymond J Moore

Redemption, Restoration, and Reinstatement

“Evidence of Grace: The Imperfect Journey to Perfection” is made up of stories of people from the Bible that God used despite their sin. It points the reader to God’s amazing love, unmerited grace, forgiveness, restoration, and healing.

Moore weaves his own personal story, his testimony, with some of his Bible heroes who experienced great victories and were used mightily by God. He shows from the scriptures how at the pinnacle of their success they sometimes made bad choices, sinned, and were unfaithful in their obedience to God. The lives of: David, Moses, Manasseh, Peter, Abraham, Rahab, and Judah all illustrate how God in His grace intervened in the midst of their struggles to turn repentant men and women into powerful examples of what can be accomplished when we are yielded to His purpose for His glory.

Ray’s reflections are introduced for application at various points in each story. This short commentary provides additional insights and applications from the scriptures and from his own story to instruct and challenge the reader to repent, seek forgiveness, and to pursue the will of God in obedience. He openly relates his own weaknesses, struggles, and the depth of the shamefulness of his sin. I appreciated and was blessed by Raymond’s openness in telling his own story with candor and humility.

Adding interesting insights by reading between the lines Moore turns Biblical accounts into first person narratives to help the reader understand more clearly the lessons God has for us from the lives of these individuals. After telling their story the underlying truth that is to be gleaned from the example is made clear. We can find parallels by relating our experiences and our temptations to these illustrations. God can turn our “mess to a message,” “our test a testimony.” Raymond tells of the feelings of rejection, betrayal, denial, and ridicule he felt when he found himself in a jail cell for an unexpected criminal act. He describes his guilt, remorse, and regret. He tells of the despair of abandonment, and of the heaviness and loneliness resulting from his shame. He compares his experience with David’s moment of remorse for his sin and of his contrite spirit of wholehearted repentance and the liberating peace of forgiveness. He experiences Moses’ divine encounter – called by God to fulfill a purpose.

Moore’s story like the examples from the Bible heroes “testifies of the scope and power of God’s mercy for those who choose to believe.” His writing is rich in Bible references, application, theology, and illustrations, a scholarly treatise, which embodies an understanding of the scriptures, in easy to understand layman’s terms.

Moore writes with the hope of helping the church rise to its fullest potential by helping repentant sinners “know that saints are not perfect, sinless people, and we saints must stop giving them this impression.” “Evidence of Grace: The Imperfect Journey to Perfection” is an amazing story of redemption, restoration, and reinstatement. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines.

Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.
P. O. Box 310
Shippensburg, PA 17257-0310
978-0768437584, $ 16.99, 2011, 268 Pages

As reviewed for Midwest Book Review.