“Jesus and His companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, He went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching, for He taught with real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law.” (Mark 1:21-22 NLT)
What are the top 10 most amazing things you’ve ever experienced? Did Jesus make the cut? Or more to the point, His grace? I never cease to be amazed at how selfish I am, or how thoughtless when it comes to another person’s needs, especially the needs of someone I profess to love.
In my old age I’m learning it’s a lot easier to sing about amazing grace than it is to live daily with a spirit of amazement. And please understand, I’m not talking about all the things God has done by His grace, I’m addressing the limitless investments of His amazing grace in our lives every moment of every day.
Think about it! The air we breathe, the sunshine, rain, friendship, family – both physical and spiritual, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, the ability to feel things with our fingers and with our heart. Honestly, the list is endless of the ways God’s grace intersects our lives each second.
R. C. Sproul said: “We need to do more than sing ‘Amazing Grace.’ We need to be repeatedly amazed by grace.” How often do we take for granted food in our frig, a car in our garage, a spouse, kids, grandkids? How about the gift of neighbors, air conditioning and central heat?
It’s hard for me to think about all the ways God floods my life with His grace without thinking of those I’ve met in places within a short drive of my house who don’t have those things we too often take for granted. They don’t have a steady income that affords them a place to live with all the benefits we’ve learned to expect.
What if we suddenly, we’re deprived of all our creature comforts? What if a physical, mental, or emotional setback leaves us unable to provide anything for ourselves? The proverbial “domino effect” is closer to many people than we like to imagine. Many homeless today aren’t mentally or emotionally challenged, they’ve simply lost their job that took away their income, and they lost their house, car, and on and on it goes.
Where’s the grace of God in all of that? It’s the same place it always was! Grace isn’t dependent upon material things – what we have or don’t have. Gratitude for God’s free, undeserved gift of life that has likely led most of you who read this blog to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Martin Lloyd-Jones wrote: “The Christian life starts with grace, continues with grace, and ends with grace. By the grace of God I am what I am.” Who I am – who you are – isn’t dependent upon position, power, prestige, or possessions. It’s only and always dependent upon your life in Jesus. He IS our life, whether we have or have not.
If we’re alive our life has purpose – we’re alive for a reason, and that reason is to glorify and honor Jesus. How do we do that? By His grace! The free, unmerited, underserved gift of His holy presence that sustains us regardless of our circumstances.
I’m reminded of a group of American soldiers who were captured during WWII who worked out a system of communication that enabled them over time to remember Bible verses and hymns. When by God’s grace they made it home, they discovered that they’d actually added a verse to one hymn that wasn’t part of the original, but they attributed the grace of God with bringing those things to mind and sparing their lives.
What’s amazing about the grace of God in your life today?
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 