Grace: Unmerited, Undeserved Favor
There but by God’s grace, go I.
I’ve gotten really good at saying that. It may not always be out loud. Sometimes I say it under my breath. Sometimes a silent nod to my incredible God who knows me so well.
There but by God’s grace, go I.
When I hear of an affair. …by God’s grace go I.
A stupid comment that makes another feel cut down...by God’s grace go I.
A remark cloaked in humility, but is intended to elicit a compliment…by God’s grace go I.
I think this way whenever I hear of some horrible thing someone’s done - those who have “fallen from grace.” And make no mistake, it’s not like I’m doing the false humility thing.
I just really believe I’m capable of that and far worse.
Look back at the Last Supper for a moment:
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to Him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” - Mark 14:17-19.
Actually, he meant all of them. Yes, Judas would betray Him overtly.
And Peter, with all his manly fisherman strength and chutzpa - “Even if all fall away, I will not!” - would have to lock eyes with Jesus and hear the plain truth: “Today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
Peter—like I, and all the others close to Jesus—can’t stand it and insisted emphatically,
“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” - Mark 14:27-31
But Peter did. They all did.
Until we’re able to see ourselves as the betrayer, the cheat, the liar, the gossip, the murderer, the adulterer, the racist, the hypocrite, the arrogant, the self-centered, the oppressor—all that and so much more—we will never—NEVER—see our need of a Savior. So, we will never be truly amazed by God’s grace.
God’s grace reveals this truth to us. And God’s grace deals with it at the cross.
I hope you, like I this Easter, are clinging, actually clinging to God’s amazing grace.
I’m real because God is so real.
~ Nancy
CALLING
Can you be brutally honest about the stuff you see in yourself that maybe no one else sees? Be amazed and flat out grateful for God’s unmerited, undeserved favor on your life.