My wife and I were watching a sermon on grace a few days ago and halfway through she said, “Isn’t this to simple?” We dialogued afterwards and realized how glad we were that it was.
Can you imagine Mephibosheth’s reaction to grace?
David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.” 2 Samuel 9:7 NRSV
Do I want that kind of grace, that kind of kindness – for sure I do – for I clearly am a fallen sinner in need of this kind of God’s grace – one who does not deserve it, could never earn it and would never be able to repay it.
My wife and I were also challenged in how we communicate grace to others – and we named a few people in our lives where that needed to be our focus.
For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. 2 Corinthians 2:4 NRSV
We affirmed that there definitely is a grace that needs to be exhibited in our communication styles for at some point we too have come from a place of joy received from the recovery of grace.
I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, in order that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I forgive you all that you have done, says the Lord God. Ezekiel 16:62-63 NRSV
Yes, my wife and I had the same trouble most of us have – cannot talk about grace without talking about judgement. We both concluded that the all-important work of atonement was not overlooking sin, but our sin being covered by God’s marvellous grace.
O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. Psalm 59:17 NRSV
With a bit of study, I found the Aramaic Bible translates that last part of this verse as, “and the God of my grace!” Yes, there my wife and I have found our joy as followers of Christ.
When I think of grace, I think of Your presence. Wherever we may be found today and in whatever activity we may be engaged in, may we gather there with Your favour. Lord, by Your favour, we mean favour us with Your grace, and with the love of God the Father, and with the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
evanlaar
Sixty-six books in a year 