Grace And A Loaf Of Bread
"[and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]."
--Ephesians 2:7 AMP
I recently read a story about a judge who was presiding over a court in a poorer than dirt poor section during the Great Depression. It was one of those nights that was brutally, numbingly bitter cold and an elderly woman stood before this judge looking more war torn than care worn. She had been brought before him on the charge of stealing a loaf of bread and as she stood in front of this man she made no effort or attempt to deny the charges. She told how her son-in-law had run off and abandoned his family, leaving behind his wife (her daughter) who was very sick and two children (her grandchildren) whose bellies were empty. Hearing this made no impression on the shopkeeper who was determined to make an example of this woman; he refused to drop the charges.
The judge listened and after a while he informed the woman that, due to the nature of the law, he had no choice but to find her guilty, the penalty being a ten dollar fine or ten days in jail, knowing full well this woman was unable to pay the ten dollars. As he laid out her sentence, he did something unexpected. He reached into his wallet, took out ten dollars, and gave it to the bailiff to pay her fine. And as he brought the gavel down he stated that everyone in the courtroom would be fined fifty cents for "living in a city where a poor woman had to steal bread to feed her starving family." Before it was over the woman left the courtroom with $47.50 that had been collected from criminals, police officers, traffic violators, AND the ornery grocer who had refused to drop the charges against her!
That, my friends, is grace!
The word grace takes on several different meanings for us. Obviously the judge's actions is an example of grace in action. We also tend to visualize grace as being facets of beauty, charm, and all things elegant. To Christ followers, grace means so much more. Grace is the character of God. Unmerited. Unearned. Abundantly generous favor to sinners who are most undeserving.
When God sent Jesus to die on the cross, He was sent to once and for all settle our debts and to take away our sins. Through His death and resurrection we, like that elderly woman who was declared to be not guilty before her judge, we are declared not guilty before our Judge. We are given the opposite of our deserved punishment. We are given forgiveness, mercy, and eternal life. Through this gift of grace not only are we declared to be not guilty, we are able to enter into relationship with Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells us "You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich." He willingly, knowingly, and deliberately chose to set aside all that was His and put on the poverty of man. He did not live with riches and power; He lived as an ordinary carpenter surrounded by suffering, hard work, and want, eventually surrendering His will to the brutality and ugliness of Calvary's cross. If you think there was any hint of glamour and riches involved with that, think again!
Most times we miss the point of grace because we are looking through a worldly set of eyes and thinking with the world's mind set. That mind set is based on the theory of I--"I did the work, I am the one who earned this, therefore I deserve this!" Not so with grace. There is nothing we will ever able to do enough of to earn this most precious of gifts. Why? Is it because He is picky and hard to please? Not even close. Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." When God showers us with His grace He is taking it upon Himself to settle the question. It is a gift, one intimate and personal. He gives of Himself because of who He is, not because of who we are or what we have done. The worldly mind set is that of karma--what you give is what you get returned for the good and for the bad. Grace is the polar opposite. We don't get what we deserve (or what the world thinks we deserve). Instead we are given approval, acceptance, and forgiveness. What a deal, isn't it?
Grace is a gift we are given, not a wage to be earned. There is never enough and never will be enough for us to contribute. However, while salvation is given to us freely, there is still a cost. That cost came with the shed blood of Christ. Our debts, our sins through His blood, were neither dismissed nor were they excused. What they were is eliminated, paid in full, transferred to the cruelty of Calvary just as the woman left her judge with her debt forgiven and paid in full. That day she left not just with her debts forgiven but also with an unexpected gift. It's the same way with the grace of God. Ephesians 1:7 tells us "He is "rich in kindness and grace." Ephesians 2:7 goes on to say He shows His grace and kindness toward us "in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." Always, always, always, no matter where we are in our lives, His grace is available and sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
This same story about the elderly woman and the judge went on to talk about a conference that was held many many years ago in the study of comparative religions. In one session the question was raised about what, if anything, made the Christian faith unique. Many answers were given and later dismissed. C.S. Lewis came into the room somewhere in the midst of discussion and had asked one of his colleagues what all the fuss was about. When he was told that the question was pertaining to Christianity's uniqueness among the world's religions, Lewis answered, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
He was right. He is still right.
Every religion, in one manner or another, claims that in order to gain favor that favor must be earned. You must do. The message of Christ is already done. He took everything--our sin, our shame, our failure, our guilt, our doubt, our fear, our brokenness, our ashes and exchanged them all for beauty, forgiveness, and life eternal. John 1:6 states simply "From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." We receive and we receive freely.
What comes to mind when you think of grace? Is it something you are still trying within yourself to earn? Or have you received it as a wondrous gift freely given?
Devotional Time
Take a moment now to really reflect on God and His grace. Think about and record every verse you can find on His grace and record what that means to you His follower. Do you enjoy worship music? Make a playlist of any and every worship song you can find on God's grace. Keep it close and play it over and over in your quiet times, letting its message take root in your heart and mind.
--Ephesians 2:7 AMP
I recently read a story about a judge who was presiding over a court in a poorer than dirt poor section during the Great Depression. It was one of those nights that was brutally, numbingly bitter cold and an elderly woman stood before this judge looking more war torn than care worn. She had been brought before him on the charge of stealing a loaf of bread and as she stood in front of this man she made no effort or attempt to deny the charges. She told how her son-in-law had run off and abandoned his family, leaving behind his wife (her daughter) who was very sick and two children (her grandchildren) whose bellies were empty. Hearing this made no impression on the shopkeeper who was determined to make an example of this woman; he refused to drop the charges.
The judge listened and after a while he informed the woman that, due to the nature of the law, he had no choice but to find her guilty, the penalty being a ten dollar fine or ten days in jail, knowing full well this woman was unable to pay the ten dollars. As he laid out her sentence, he did something unexpected. He reached into his wallet, took out ten dollars, and gave it to the bailiff to pay her fine. And as he brought the gavel down he stated that everyone in the courtroom would be fined fifty cents for "living in a city where a poor woman had to steal bread to feed her starving family." Before it was over the woman left the courtroom with $47.50 that had been collected from criminals, police officers, traffic violators, AND the ornery grocer who had refused to drop the charges against her!
That, my friends, is grace!
The word grace takes on several different meanings for us. Obviously the judge's actions is an example of grace in action. We also tend to visualize grace as being facets of beauty, charm, and all things elegant. To Christ followers, grace means so much more. Grace is the character of God. Unmerited. Unearned. Abundantly generous favor to sinners who are most undeserving.
When God sent Jesus to die on the cross, He was sent to once and for all settle our debts and to take away our sins. Through His death and resurrection we, like that elderly woman who was declared to be not guilty before her judge, we are declared not guilty before our Judge. We are given the opposite of our deserved punishment. We are given forgiveness, mercy, and eternal life. Through this gift of grace not only are we declared to be not guilty, we are able to enter into relationship with Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells us "You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich." He willingly, knowingly, and deliberately chose to set aside all that was His and put on the poverty of man. He did not live with riches and power; He lived as an ordinary carpenter surrounded by suffering, hard work, and want, eventually surrendering His will to the brutality and ugliness of Calvary's cross. If you think there was any hint of glamour and riches involved with that, think again!
Most times we miss the point of grace because we are looking through a worldly set of eyes and thinking with the world's mind set. That mind set is based on the theory of I--"I did the work, I am the one who earned this, therefore I deserve this!" Not so with grace. There is nothing we will ever able to do enough of to earn this most precious of gifts. Why? Is it because He is picky and hard to please? Not even close. Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." When God showers us with His grace He is taking it upon Himself to settle the question. It is a gift, one intimate and personal. He gives of Himself because of who He is, not because of who we are or what we have done. The worldly mind set is that of karma--what you give is what you get returned for the good and for the bad. Grace is the polar opposite. We don't get what we deserve (or what the world thinks we deserve). Instead we are given approval, acceptance, and forgiveness. What a deal, isn't it?
Grace is a gift we are given, not a wage to be earned. There is never enough and never will be enough for us to contribute. However, while salvation is given to us freely, there is still a cost. That cost came with the shed blood of Christ. Our debts, our sins through His blood, were neither dismissed nor were they excused. What they were is eliminated, paid in full, transferred to the cruelty of Calvary just as the woman left her judge with her debt forgiven and paid in full. That day she left not just with her debts forgiven but also with an unexpected gift. It's the same way with the grace of God. Ephesians 1:7 tells us "He is "rich in kindness and grace." Ephesians 2:7 goes on to say He shows His grace and kindness toward us "in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." Always, always, always, no matter where we are in our lives, His grace is available and sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
This same story about the elderly woman and the judge went on to talk about a conference that was held many many years ago in the study of comparative religions. In one session the question was raised about what, if anything, made the Christian faith unique. Many answers were given and later dismissed. C.S. Lewis came into the room somewhere in the midst of discussion and had asked one of his colleagues what all the fuss was about. When he was told that the question was pertaining to Christianity's uniqueness among the world's religions, Lewis answered, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
He was right. He is still right.
Every religion, in one manner or another, claims that in order to gain favor that favor must be earned. You must do. The message of Christ is already done. He took everything--our sin, our shame, our failure, our guilt, our doubt, our fear, our brokenness, our ashes and exchanged them all for beauty, forgiveness, and life eternal. John 1:6 states simply "From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." We receive and we receive freely.
What comes to mind when you think of grace? Is it something you are still trying within yourself to earn? Or have you received it as a wondrous gift freely given?
Devotional Time
Take a moment now to really reflect on God and His grace. Think about and record every verse you can find on His grace and record what that means to you His follower. Do you enjoy worship music? Make a playlist of any and every worship song you can find on God's grace. Keep it close and play it over and over in your quiet times, letting its message take root in your heart and mind.
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