Grace Abounds!

"Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace,

as it extends to more and more people,

may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God."

2 Corinthians 4:15 (NRSV).

According to the Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Grace is described as "unmerited favor." God's grace is described as "God's goodness toward humanity as expressed in the unmerited, undeserved favor given surpremely in Jesus Christ to bring salvation, forgiveness, and new life."

A man I once knew told me that for him, "that only time we didn't have God's grace was when we pushed it away."

As I look around on any given day, we can easily see God's grace in creation. What beauty we see in the fall colors! What wonder we discover in the birth of a child! God's goodness is truly Good! But grace is deeper and wider and broader than even this wondrous things. God's grace is about being given the gift of new life... both now and in the world yet to come. God's grace of new life began with God choosing to come to earth and take on the judgment of our sin. And yes, that means the judgment of all of our sins! You, me, the world. It has already happened. Grace has already been gifted to us.

So why do we push it away? Does our modern day sensibilities tell us that to receive such a gift we must be able to return a gift of equal value? Do we think that it couldn't possibly be for us? (After all, we've done some pretty terrible things.) Are we wondering why us? What is there about us that God cares so much?

Friends, you have already received God's gift of grace. There is nothing you or I can do to earn it, deserve it, achieve it, or repay it. God's grace is bigger than we can ever imagine... and it is already there showering us with love and forgiveness. Why? Because God loves the creation that God has created! Because God loves YOU and wants to be in relationship with YOU! Because God wants to see YOU thrive as well as survive the ups and downs of life. "Everything is for your sake" scripture tells us.

So... Accept the Grace. Embrace the Love. Welcome the message of Jesus into your heart and let the seeds of God's love grow! Your life depends on it!