October 30, 2024
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Timothy 1:9
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time …”
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Grace is a gift most of us do not know how to receive. I believe our society's systems of give-and-take and work-for-reward have made the concept of grace difficult for us to comprehend. Yet, the Bible demonstrates it is solely through grace that lives can be transformed. It is grace that gives us freedom. We are saved by grace alone. That is the message the Reformers recovered from the study of the scriptures. The rich, powerful, message of free grace in Jesus, or as they put it salvation “By Grace Alone.”
The concept of Grace is a recurring theme in many of our worship songs: Amazing Grace, Grace Greater than All My Sin, Your Grace is Enough, This is Amazing Grace, and many more. What is it about Grace that captures our hearts and voices in song? Why do we ask God to 'tune our hearts to sing His grace'? I wonder if it is because Grace meets a deep need within us that nothing else can.
Take a moment to reflect on the thoughts and deeds of the human heart, observed in ourselves and others. A glance at a day's news reveals numerous accounts of misguided thoughts and actions. Isaiah 64:6 likens even our finest efforts to "filthy rags." This suggests that if salvation hinged on our actions, our good deeds, liberation from the "sins that so easily ensnare" would be unattainable. The Reformers echoed Paul's message in Ephesians, affirming that salvation is not for sale or earned by deeds; it is a gift of grace alone.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But [God] said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What great comfort we hear in these words of Paul. And what amazing love our heavenly Father has for us, that our God would give his all sufficient grace to each of us.
Our God approaches us, steps towards us, and sacrifices his life so that we may live through him. In his grace, he simply asks that we keep our hearts open, willing, and welcoming to his presence.
Let us remember that God's grace is completely sufficient for us. It is by living in His grace that we find our strength. As the heavenly Father says, "My power is made perfect in weakness." Through His ministry, Christ showed that His power comes alive when people recognize their need for Him. From the woman reaching out to touch His garment, to Zacchaeus the tax collector, to the paralyzed man being lowered through a roof, God performs amazing miracles in the lives of those who approach Him in their brokenness and need. It's all about grace, God's unearned favor given to us through Jesus Christ.
Yes, “… it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
LET US PRAY
Lord, you are aware of my desire to be self-sufficient. Yet, let me always be filled with wonder and gratitude for the gift of salvation you offer, which is not earned but given freely. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment