Big Story

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
- Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

I’m not sure why, but grace is sometimes hard for me to understand. I just seem to have a hard time wrapping my brain around it.

Think about it, an omnipotent God sends His only Son to live a sinless life, die on a criminals cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb and, rise and live again so that we might have life... might have a relationship with Him... may one day go to heaven. And we deserve none of it. In fact, we deserve death for our sins, death for our irreverence, death for the lives that we have chosen to live.

This Son showing grace and mercy and love like the world has never seen and never known.

As true as it is, that’s a big story. That’s a lot to take in.

Why would such a big God do such a thing for such a little man (as big as I think I am)?

Why would He give such unearned, unmerited favor? 
Why would He give such grace… and such mercy?

Definitely not because we deserved it. Definitely not because we somehow earned it, but because this God, who when we gaze upon His majesty, contemplate His immensity and recognize His infinite power strikes awe, respect and reverent fear within us, loves us. This God loves us - you and me.

He is a God of wrath and a God of love. We are His creation, His children. And He loves us and gives us grace and forgiveness, mercy and hope, faith and love.

Maybe I have such a hard time understanding His grace because I have such a hard time understanding that kind of love… and thus, a hard time giving and showing that kind of grace and love.

O Lord, help me give to others the grace and mercy you have given me. Help me show the world around me the love that you have shown to me. O Lord, thank you for your love, your blessings, the cross and the resurrection Lord, I am so grateful that You gave/give me grace anyway. I just want to stop for a moment and say Thank You, Lord. In your Son Jesus’ name I pray.

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem