Shirley
THE STRANGE, OUTRAGEOUS, SCANDALOUS AND UNMERITED GRACE OF GOD
When it comes to my salvation, one of the things I have struggled to understand the most is Grace. Just when I think I have gotten it, I find myself struggling with it. In fact, it is one thing I find that the Holy Spirit has to constantly remind me about in practically every season. Why you may ask? You see I am performer. I came out of my mother’s womb performing and trying to earn everything based on what I put in. This is was what made me feel worthy of any good thing that I desired or reached out for. So I was not a performer who performs for the bright lights like you may imagine, but someone who believes that you have to earn things because things cannot be given to you, and that I could only rely on myself and not on anyone else because everything I received was directly proportional and dependent on what “I” put in. Further, that this performing was what made me worthy. So, you can imagine my confusion with this thing called Grace. This idea that I can never earn God’s love or even be worthy of it, yet it was still given to me felt so unnatural, and even preposterous. It not only went against my core ideologies but against the foundation by which the world we live in is built on where we are taught that anything good must be earned and hence, we must constantly perform in order to not just receive but to even be worthy to receive. The need to perform is imbedded in everything and better yet its strokes the ego greatly when we perform and the end result is that we receive. Now do not get me wrong, Grace is not a free pass to be lazy. It does not absolve us from being hardworking or excellent or from even trying, it just simply means that God’s Grace will cover us and the result is not dependent on what we put in or are unable to put in ,but on God’s will and plan for us. Therefore this means that whatever God has for you or me will not have to cost us our rest, peace or joy because where our human abilities are limited or fail us or where we have no control, He will step in and fill the gap. Also, when we willing and openly receive Grace, then it means that no matter what happens , it will always work out for our good!
So, what is this Grace I am talking about? The dictionary defines Grace in a variety and diverse ways. It defines it as: the divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance. It is also defined as a special favour; a privilege, disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency; a temporary exemption : a reprieve; a charming or attractive trait or characteristic; a pleasing appearance or effect; ease and suppleness of movement or bearing; and further it is also —used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and the list goes on.
As a lover of words of course Grace to me is one of my favourites. I particularly love the different meanings, nuances and wonderful connotations that are attached to defining Grace because they capture eloquently the effervescent nature of the Grace of God. In my experience as one chooses to surrender their life to God it quickly becomes evident that we are given access to Grace and that it vibrates on higher ground. Grace gives access to the unimaginable, the unexplainable. Ironically, its many dictionary meanings are almost prophetic in that it unknowingly speaks of God’s abundance as it captures the many different roles that Grace plays in the life of a believer. Indeed, Grace is this thing that morphs and changes into the different things we need from our Father in heaven in the various seasons that we go through. Further, Grace is abounding and breaks every rule of the worldly system that we live . Hence, at least for me Grace though so simple at first glance is often also too complex for my mind to grasp and even sometimes receive even when it is so easily available as promised in the good book
Grace in the bible does not promise us a life without problems, what is promises is a life of striding and not striving. Striving means to struggle or exert great effort against difficulty, while striding means to walk with long, confident steps. Striving often implies a feeling of struggle or a constant need to achieve something, whereas striding suggests a more balanced, peaceful, and forward-moving approach. Many of us—including myself—have accepted the gift of salvation, freely given to all who choose to believe. We often view this as the only form of Grace available to us at the moment of that life-changing decision. However, Grace is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing process that continues beyond our initial choice to receive salvation. As a result, after salvation our lives are not different than those who have not received it, we are still striving instead of striding. We spend our lives walking this earth as Christians but never resting. We never experience peace when our life is falling apart or the wonder working power of Christ in our lives in our weakness or inadequacies because we often do not know that Grace is available to us or that we can even request it or access it, and other times we simply do not believe in its power. Basically, we have this cheat code that we refuse to make use of because we like control and we like to perform, we like to earn things!
There are many instances in the bible where we see God’s Grace at work. My favourite examples of Grace in the bible are found in the book of Joshua where the Israelites won many battles and not because they were strong or even great strategists or even because they had a great army. They won because of God’s Grace. God had already won the war for them even before they went into battle. Interestingly, what was required of them was to stay close and commune with God in order to find out if He had already won the battle for them before heading into battle. Basically, the battle was already rigged for them by the Grace all they needed to do was show up how God asked them to show up. That was the Grace afforded to them by God in the book of Joshua, which represents the season in which God had determined was the season for the Israelites to receive their promised land. We see this in Joshua 1:9, Joshua 6:2: Joshua 10:8; Joshua 10:13: Joshua 11:6 and Joshua 21:44.
We as believers should always create room for the wonder working power of Grace in everything we do or endeavour to do. We all have access to it and must just be intentional about seeking it and receiving it. It is a super power. I can assure you for free that everything that God needs us to do on this earth, we will never be able to do without Him, on your own you fail. That is why we must always ensure that we allow God to lead and that we intentionally collaborate with Him. When we do life, this was, we can sleep like babies even when we do not know what tomorrow holds!
Other examples in the bible of Grace include: the gift of salvation and forgiveness which we cannot earn even if we tried (Ephesians 2: 8; Acts 156:11; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 5:1-2 ;Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 6:6-8; John 1:16-17; Romans 5:17; Romans 3:24; John 1:16; Romans 11:6; Romans 3:20-24 Romans 1:1-5 (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:6; Titus 3:7; 1 Corinthians 15:10; John 15:5 ); spiritual gifts(1 Corinthians 12:4-11); the ability to serve others with our gifts(1 Peter 4:10-11); it provides us with intimacy and direct access to God to communicate and fellowship with Him (Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 4:16 Exodus 33:17).
Grace gives us: strength when we are weak or inadequate( 2 Corinthians 12:8- 9; Romans 5:17 ; 2 Timiothy 2:1; 1 Peter 5:10; Phillipians 4:13; Isaiah 41:10 Luke 10: 19); power to overcome sin(Romans 6: 14; John 3:16; Luke 10:19) ; Peace(2 Peter 1: 2; Philippians 4:7); access to unconditional love ( I John 4: 10 and Romans 5: 8);access to an abundant life (John 10: 10; 2 Corinthians 9: 8; 2 Corinthians 8: 2 and 7 and Galatians 5:22-23); eternal life (John 3:16-17; Romans 6:23); it protection us against bitterness (Hebrews 12:15); and gifts us with righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:17).
Grace also ensures: that no matter what happens in our life it will always work out for our good eventually(Romans 8: 28); that we have hope always (Romans 5: 1-2; Romans 15:13; Psalm 62:5; Psalm 42:11) and that we have access to forgiveness if we confess ( 1 john 1: 9; Ephesians 1:7; Psalm 130 ; Isaiah 55:7 and Psalm 25:6-7).
Grace leads to restoration for our suffering (I Peter 5:10; Joel 2:25; Jeremiah 30:17; Psalm 51:12; Acts 3:21; Ezekiel 36:26 and 1 Peter 3:14); provides us with help(Hebrews 13:6; John 15:26 and John 16:7; Phillipians 4:13 and Psalm 118:6-7; Isaiah 41:10 and Isaiah 35:4-14. ) Protection (Psalm 34:7; Psalm 125:2 and Psalm 23:4 ). Grace provides protection( (Psalm 34:7; Psalm 125:2 ; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 34:17; Isaiah 46:4)
Grace gives us contentment (Phillipians 4:11-13) and rest no matter what is going on in our life (Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 37:7; Exodus 33:14; Psalm 4:8; Psalm 23:1-2; Psalm 46:10; Psalm 62:1; Psalm 62:1. It gives us peace even when our very life may be falling apart ( John 14:27; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7).
Grace gives us: an abundance of joy ( Galatians 5:22-23 ; Romans 15:13; Romans 12:12 ; Philippians 4:4; James 1:2 ; Galatians 5:22; John 16:24; Proverbs 17:22); the ability to love others (1 John 4:19; 2 Corinthians 8: 7; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 4:8, John 13:34-35, Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 4:8; Colossians 3:14;1 John 4:19 ;1 Corinthians 16:14; Titus 3:4-5; Romans 12:10 and Matthew 5:43-48;2 Corinthians 4:15 and Galatians 5:22-23).
There is even grace to endure suffering (1 Peter 5:10; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Grace also gives us freedom from fear and anxiety(I peter 5:7; Joshua 1:9; Phillipians 4:6 Luke 12:22-26; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 55:22; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:13-14; Proverbs 29:25; Mark 4:39-40; Psalm 34:4;Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 56:3; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18; Psalm 94:19; Isaiah 43:1; Joshua 1:9; Matthew 6:34; Peter 5:6-7; Deuteronomy 3:22; Revelation 1:17; Mark 5:36; Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 91:1-16.
The above is by no means exhaustive as the list goes on and on. Basically, whatever season you may find yourself in today, there is a heavenly Grace for it. So seek the Lord for it!
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