‘From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17 NLT)
We all think we understand grace, but we don’t and won’t until we see Jesus face to face. Grace isn’t simply a kindness given or a favor bestowed, it’s a Person who shed His blood so we wouldn’t have to shed ours in a futile attempt to save ourselves from our sin. God was the same in the Old Testament as He is today, so, of course, He has extended His favor across the centuries. But on many levels, grace received a new definition when Jesus placed His sinless life in place of ours and took our sin upon Himself.
Grace before Christ’s sacrificial death is like a drink of cold water on a hot day, refreshing and helpful, but it doesn’t last. Martin Lloyd-Jones said it well when he wrote: “The Christian life starts with grace, continues with grace, and ends with grace. By the grace of God I am who I am. The gift of eternal life is a grace gift that wasn’t available until Jesus died to make it possible.
In every case grace is undeserved and unearned. We don’t receive grace because we want it or think we deserve it, we receive grace when we’ve quit asking and our face is buried in our hands in complete despair. Perhaps that’s why Bob Goff said: “Grace never seems fair until you need some.”
Bob Goff also made the observation: “Humble people make grace look easy.” Why would he say that? Largely because humility doesn’t expect accolades, they don’t live for the next “blessing” or the next “reward” from the Lord. They serve the Lord out of sacrificial hearts of love and devotion. Malachi O’Brien wrote: “None of us are as ‘important’ as we would like to think we are. Live to be forgotten and ferociously live to make Jesus famous.”
Loving and living for Jesus is a privilege and honor, not simply based on what He gives us, which is far more than we could ever in eternity give ourselves, but based on the opportunity we have to give of ourselves for a purpose that will long out live us. Being a Jesus follower isn’t about our importance, but His; not about what we have to give up or do without, but on what we’ve gained in knowing and loving Him.
When it seems our “grace” tank is running low, perhaps it’s time to realize that, as J.I. Packer said: “There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me.” When the Lord died for us, He didn’t base that decision on how good we were, or were going to be, we had and have no goodness of our own, but on how great our need would be.
If you ever get the misguided idea you don’t need grace, try figuring out a way to get to heaven without it. There is no Jesus without grace, no salvation without grace, no Holy Spirit without grace, no conviction without grace, no goodness, kindness, mercy, or any of the fruit of the Spirit without grace.
Grace is unearned and undeserved. We can’t buy, borrow, beg, or steal it. It’s a gift. A gift given by our loving, all-knowing, ever-present Father who knows us better than we will ever know ourselves and is kind in ways we cannot comprehend. When He extends His grace to you, don’t try to figure it out, just say, “Thank You, Father!”
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 