Grace is the word given by the New Testament, Holy Spirit inspired writers to describe God’s favor, free, no-strings-attached gifts, or blessings He bestows without expectation of return. In reference to the Lord, it may be understood in conjunction with the agape, unconditional love He has toward man expressed by Christ’s work on the cross – evidence of this divine, uncontainable benevolence. Grace is His holy influence upon our lives, that turns us to Christ, keeping and strengthening us in our faith. Lord Jesus tells us that His gracious kindness is extended to both the Christian and non-believing Matthew 5:45, Luke 6:35, but it is only received fully as the free-gift of salvation upon one’s acceptance of Him. John 1:12.
As we ponder grace it takes our breath away! Grace is not a little wading pool that is small, stingy, or selfish, it is an ocean relentlessly washing wave after wave after wave of divine favor and kindness and acceptance. And this, even smack-dab-in-the-middle of the very habits and behaviors we are ashamed of.
Years ago, my husband, Randy, and I were given an all-expenses paid trip to beautiful Monterey, California. The hotel was set squarely on the sandy beach with our room facing the ocean. Oh, the soothing sounds of the waves crashing just yards from our door. Yet, I am a light sleeper. After an hour of tossing and turning, using earplugs, and the white noise of a fan, the sound of those waves was, well, nonstop and overwhelming. Wave after wave they relentlessly came. I desperately wanted the hotel’s front desk to flip a switch and turn them off for just a few hours – but for some odd reason I was told it couldn’t be done!
How much more is God’s grace is sure, steadfast, relentless, reliable, and unstoppable as the waves upon the sandy seashore. We can’t stop His grace ever extending its power, acceptance, and joy our way. We can’t ever turn it off or miss-the-mark so badly in life that it is nullified. Nevertheless, we can stymie and hinder His grace joyfully crashing over our lives – as with all of His attributes and promises – by remaining on the sand of unbelief. We can stand on the shore, hear about grace, read about grace, study His grace, and see it revealed in other’s lives, but never take the first steps to get our feet wet for receiving His grace in our own areas of failing or disappointment.
{Bless you for reading this far! Thoughts? Comments? To be continued next week…}