Grace

In Britain, we often pray`The Grace` (as it is called), at the end of our church services, prayer meetings and even Ellel Ministries training courses. The complete form of this prayer is `The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you now and ever more, Amen`. But I sometimes wonder if people truly understand what it is they`re praying? What is `grace`? There is a well-known acronym which explains it as: `God`s Riches At Christ`s Expense`. And that`s what it is: everything that Jesus won for us on the cross, given to us freely, unconditionally, undeservedly, un-earned – just given, poured out in an unceasing flow. Amazing!

It`s not easy for us to take in, but the Amplified Version of the Bible often describes it as `the unmerited favour` of God, and I think that is the part of it we find so difficult to understand. Why should a holy God, pour out this amazing grace on us when we`ve done absolutely nothing to deserve it? Why should we be able to receive freedom from our sins and not have to pay for them? Where`s the catch? What do we have to do to get this freedom?

There`s a part of our human nature that is often suspicious of `freebies`(things given for free). There`s also another part of us which thinks that because we`re so sinful we shouldn`t just have this grace offered to us without our having to pay for it. But the truth is that there`s no price big enough to cover the cost that God paid in order for it to be available to us and anything we try to do to `buy` it actually shows how little we truly understand it. Imagine buying the very best and most expensive present that you could possibly afford – it cost you everything you own to buy it – and you give it freely to your friend, simply because you love him and want to show how much you love him. That friend receives the gift with brief thanks, and then reaches into his pocket to bring out his purses to pay for it. First, he hasn`t got enough money to buy it – it cost you everything – and second, you wanted him to have it freely because you love him: how hurt would you be?

God gave us Jesus, freely, unreservedly, and He poured out His blood on our behalf, to pay the huge cost of covering our sin. We`re free! We don`t have to pay any more!! Allelujah!

Prayer: Father God, How can I ever thank You enough for what You`ve so freely given to me. It`s amazing! Please help me to grasp the full truth of my freedom more and more each day and to recognise how wonderfully blessed I am. I praise You for my precious Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.