From Jesus’ fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)
There’s no more powerful, more life-changing, more hopeful word ever uttered by God to His children than the word grace. Jesus came to this earth to share God’s grace through His life, death, and resurrection.
What does the grace of God do for us? It does more than we could ever fully comprehend or describe during this life. Maybe someday, when we have been received into God’s nearer presence, we’ll begin to comprehend the height, depth, width, and power of God’s grace.
God’s grace covers all sin, bridges all separation, and heals all wounds. His grace lifts up the fallen, fills the empty, emboldens the frightened, finds the lost, frees the captive, and dries the tears of those who weep.
God’s grace obliterates all that separates race from race, color from color, gender from gender, and it raises up each person as a unique and beloved child of God.
God’s grace is a great leveler and a great exalter. It’s a great leveler because we all need it. It’s a great exalter because we’re all lifted up and blessed by it. There’s no one so bad who could ever cause God to withdraw His grace. There’s no one so good who can earn it.
How do we receive the grace of God? Surrender our life to Jesus. That’s it, and that’s all. We need to stop trying to earn what can only be received as a gift. The only way we can get right with God is through Jesus and His grace. When we accept and believe in Jesus, our one precious life is no longer ours but His.
I encourage us to give all that we are, all that we have, and all that we need and hope for to Jesus. When we do so, we will begin to know the joy and freedom and power that only grace can give.
During this life, we get glimpses of grace, but someday grace will be all in all.
During this life, we can begin to learn some of the dance steps and song notes of grace, but someday we will discover that grace is the dance for all eternity and the hymn without end.
Reflection Questions:
- When have you known and accepted that you were desperate for Jesus’ grace? What had you done or not done that caused that knowledge and acceptance?
- How has the grace of Jesus touched, blessed, or changed your life?
- Jesus wants us to accept His grace. Jesus also wants us to share it. Do you offer grace easily and unconditionally? Do you need to offer grace to someone right now? Could that person possibly, be you?
Thank you so much for this post, Jim. I’m one who wishes I had known the power of grace as a child; not only for my own sins and shortcomings, but also its power in healing divisions among people. But so thankful I have learned more and continuing to learn.