07/31/2021
How much grace have we each received through Jesus Christ? How much will we eventually receive before He finally says “that should be enough!”? The answer is that we will never receive enough because it is one of those spiritual blessings that flows, along with living water to cover our sins, and it isn’t determined by our capacity to receive it, but Christ’s ability to give it.
“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”
John 1:16 ESV
As children we would be treated to a bowl of ice cream, or perhaps some candy, and as our parent would spoon the delicious treat into our bowl or place a few more pieces of candy into our hand we would keep saying “One more scoop!”, or “Another piece!”, but we knew that the bowl would eventually be full, and our hand wouldn’t be able to hold another morsel of sweet goodness. Yet grace never ceases to be given, because Jesus is it’s source, He is ageless, and our need for Him is never satisfied.
“who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
2 Timothy 1:9 ESV
When will our thirst for Jesus be satisfied, or our work in service of the Lord be done? In these things we see the grace of God, and in them it is not our effort or doing that is apparent, but His abundance that is evident in His glory. In as much as our life through Christ is eternal we always need to wash and quench our thirst in His living water. In as much as our desire to worship and praise God is never ending, we need His grace to sustain us, and to give us strength. Our needs, and God’s ability to provide them through Jesus are never ending… ladle upon ladle of living water, and the continuous uninterrupted grace of God.
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.””
2 Corinthians 9:8-9 ESV
So, how much grace have we received through Jesus Christ, and how much more are we yet to receive? God’s grace was give us through Christ before the ages, before we were conceived, and it will continue on eternally. There has never been a moment in life that we were without His grace, and there will never be an instance yet to come when we will not be bathed in it. Our capacity to receive God’s grace is limited only by our desire to accept it, not by His provision, or our unending need for it.
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
2 Peter 1:2 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ in whom you gave us the gift of grace before the ages began, and thank you for heaping that grace upon us… grace upon grace. We thank you for the unending nature of your grace, and the continuing flow of living water that allows us to partake of it for eternity. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who never abandons us, and who fills us with His grace without measure. Praised be your name for each time we call upon you for help, and for your provision which, by your grace, our need is met. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus, and refresh us with the living water that flows from Him. Let your grace which flows through Him give us strength in our faith, and help in our unbelief. In these timeless snd unending blessings we give you all glory and praise forevermore.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
Rich Forbes