I met a lovely woman today whose name is Grace, and she was sharing how she has learned to live within the rhythm of what her name means. It reminded me of the power of God's grace and how it is more than enough for us all.
God's grace, however, is not fair in the world's way of thinking, where we are taught that nothing is free; no pain, no gain, you must toil for everything you have, and people get what they deserve.
This mentality encourages beliefs that only "good" people will be loved and forgiven by God; the hard-working will be the only ones rewarded, and if you manage to scrape into heaven on your dying breath, you'll be viewed as insignificant in the company of the great men and woman of faith and good works.
But thank God for His grace that isn't anything to do with "fairness." Even though God sees us at our very best and worst, He still extends His Grace to us anyway. It can't be earnt and is nothing to do with finishing last or first, reliant on our works, or anything we do or don't do, but instead is a free gift from God, already bought and paid for.
Today I encourage you to lean into God's great grace. It's a grace that never gives up and is faithful to perfect that which it's started in you. God promises you can never drift so far away from God's love and grace that He won't come looking for you to bring you home. His grace is more than enough for you!
For, "if I care to listen, I hear a loud whisper from the gospel that I did not get what I deserved. I deserved punishment and got forgiveness. I deserved wrath and got love. I deserved debtor's prison and got instead a clean credit history. I deserved stern lectures and crawl on your knees repentance; I got a banquet spread out for me." (Philip Yancey)
"It was only through this wonderful Grace that we believed in him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving." (Ephesians 2:8-9 TPT)
Luke 5:29-32 Message translation
Prayer: Lord, please help me to comprehend that your grace is not about anything I can do or what is even fair, but all about you and your love for me. I thank you for your great grace today. In Jesus name Amen.