The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with Your Spirit. Amen. Philemon 1:25
We thank God for His unfailing love towards us for granting us the privilege to be His children and seeing us into the 5th month of the year 2021. We cannot over emphasis God’s faithfulness because His compassion is new every morning. To Him alone be glory, honor, and adoration in Jesus’ name. This month of May is the month of His Grace towards us. Grace is God’s unmerited favor to those who do not deserve it. Grace is getting something from God that does not belong to us. It is a demonstration of God’s love that is undeserved, and un-repayable.
Donald Barnhouse said, “Love that goes upward is worship, love that goes out is affection, and love that stoop is grace.” That is what Jesus Christ did for us. He stooped to save us from our sin.
Another way grace is defined is by using an acrostic G-R-A-C-E standing for God’s Riches At Christ Expense.
The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is a book of Grace. It is filled with cases of God the Father showing grace to His undeserving children. Before human beings were created in Genesis chapter one, God had created all that is needed to sustain human’s life. In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned and covered themselves with leaves because they were naked. God in His lovingkindness covered them with more durable and protective coats made from animal skin,
Genesis 3:21, “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin and clothed them.” The coats of skins are a beautiful picture of what Jesus did on Calvary.
In Genesis 6:8, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. “Noah didn’t work for God’s grace; it was freely given to him by God. God continues today to give us His grace freely through our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Samuel chapter 9 carries the story of David’s love and care for Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth. In David’s care for Mephibosheth, we find God’s care and concern for lost sinners, how the Lord save the sinner and bring him to Himself. It is a story of God’s grace in a barren place.
Apostle Paul summed his ministry thus in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10: “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
Beloved, we are what we are by God’s grace, all our blessings and accomplishments we owe to Him. His resurrection power changes a person from a sinner to a saint, from being gripped by vices to a victorious believer. He can take a man who has hit rock bottom and lift him up to the top of the mountain. He can pull him from the gutter of despair to the glory of God’s delight. He is there for you in whatever situation you find yourself.
Therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
PRAYER: May the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you in Jesus’ name (1 Peter 5:10).
Welcome to May 2021, the month of God’s Grace.
Yours in the Lord,
Pastor Lillian Haastrup.
