"GRACE, grace, God's grace. Grace that can pardon and cleanse within. Grace, Grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sins." Do you remember that old hymn? The tune isn't modern. The words are not complex. The simple truth therein though still satisfies sinful souls. Without God's grace in Christ Jesus, everyone who has ever walked the face of the earth is lost. We can never place too high a premium on grace. It is priceless, timeless, and God's to give. "For of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace." (John 1:16)
I know you don't want to think about this, but how have you blown it this week?! Let's consider it and repent and get on with it! I just left a prayer time with a few women in our church. We spent some time confessing our sin. As we prayed it occurred to me as much as I am aware of my sins, how many other sins am I not aware of that God's grace just covers. As the Psalmist prays, "Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults." Psalm 19:12. When we consider our utter lack in light of God's utter perfection it is shocking. The thing is, we probably don't know the half of our sins. Yet God uses and chooses wretches to love Christ and believe the Gospel and He transforms them into women useful to the Kingdom of God. If that doesn't encourage you this Saturday I imagine nothing will.
If you haven't thought about it lately, let's now be reminded that we are one unlikely candidate for the grace of God, much less were we worthy to do the work of God. Yet by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, in the Gospel that preaches His death and resurrection, we are made new. We can be useful and equipped to do ministry. Be warned, we can never move out from under the shelter that is His grace. Everything we do must be undergirded by the truth of the Gospel that there is NOTHING we can do which saves us. And there is NOTHING we can do, apart from the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish good work for the Kingdom of God. We are ever dependent on His GRACE!
