Grace and more grace
When we talk about grace, we think of how someone moves (they are so graceful in the way they dance), or perhaps you have been given a nick-name “Grace” (meaning you don’t have any)?
When we talk about grace let’s consider this concept - Grace is something none of us deserve, nor are we worthy of receiving it. I know this sounds mean, yet it is true - that is why it is called grace. Let me offer this as a consideration:
Have you ever taken someone out for a meal and you just wanted to bless them, to offer them something nice? I think we probably all have done something like this, perhaps we even take turns treating?
Now imagine, you are unable to treat, you have been let go from work, and you are having a hard time. Your friend still wants to treat you, even though you can’t pay them back or offer to treat them. You see we have such a hope in the living God who said we can’t pay Him back for the grace bestowed upon us at the cross. It is impossible, and yet sometimes we may (proverbially) attempt to pay Him back (this is call working for it). He does not want us to try a work-based-grace since this is not grace but work.
Am I making any sense? We can’t earn grace, and yet we often think we can and we see it throughout our worldly system by earning the good graces of someone, but God does not work in that manner - He doesn’t say we have to earn His good grace, He provided it for us through Jesus Christ on the cross. We cannot pay that forward and that is the point, and that is why He did it.
Ok, so what am I trying to get at? The grace of our Lord abounds today! We don’t have to rely on the past grace (although that is enough to sustain us). Listen to the words of the apostle Paul, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10, NKJV).
You see in the midst of pain and suffering, His grace is still sufficient for us - our needs. In fact - His grace is so-much more than sufficient for us today, yesterday, tomorrow (you know it is actually never tomorrow…) - His grace is lovely, extravagant, amazing, and costly.
We don’t have to walk in past grace since it abounds to us even now- through your joy and in your despair. What are you waiting for? Walk in the abounding grace that is more than sufficient, it is available to walk in - are you there? Let’s talk more about this.
In a November 29, 2005 Barna study, in Faith and Christianity one-quarter of those who call themselves born again did not meet the Barna Group criteria for born again – which generally meant they rely upon something other than God’s grace as their means to salvation (https://www.barna.com/research/one-quarter-of-self-described-born-again-adults-rely-on-means-other-than-grace-to-get-to-heaven/)
How is it that people believe that an alternate means of salvation exists apart from the grace and goodness of God?
Paul addresses this thought in these words, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:5, NKJV).
And again Paul says this, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV).
We can do nothing but receive and walk in and by faith through the grace bestowed upon us through the atonement of the cross of Christ.
We need to hear and learn this important truth so we can receive it and then walk in it. This will be helpful as we look at how to walk in the grace of God through the midst of our darkest times such as Trauma, or Dementia (I am referring to caring for others at this point), or other such difficulties. We need to recognize the truth Paul brings out -
We can pray for our pain to be taken away.
He may say ‘No’
His grace is more than sufficient for us today.
Let’s walk in the grace of God - it is truly abundant and full! He has more than enough to bestow.
Amen.
