Comprehending God’s Grace. I think the hardest thing for us to understand is the truly unconditional nature of God’s love. Scripture tells us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Paul says in Romans 9:30 “The people of the nations, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, a righteousness of faith.”
The last few years I have used a gift card as the illustration. The moment the gift card is purchased it is valid. Using that gift card is an act of faith. Recently Mary Monk shared that her dad saw God’s Grace vividly in the image of God preparing a banquette for us.
You see unlike us, God does not send out the invitations and wait to see if we agree to come. He prepares the food and sets the table even before he sends out the invitations. He does this because he loves us.
Personally I like the gift card because if the person I give it to does not use it I don’t know it. Some years ago we planned an event (not at Trinity) and I announced that I would cook lunch. More people showed up than I expected and I made sure to increase the amount of food. When I returned at noon with the food everyone except one family were in their cars leaving to go buy lunch. I have to say I was a bit harsh when I reminded them I had made lunch and they all still left and went out to eat.
Here is the thing. God’s Grace is unconditional. Even though I am sure he is saddened by our casting aside his grace, it does not change him. He still is gracious and loving, and would do it all over again because that is who he is. He goes back inside packs up the banquette, puts it in the refrigerator so it will keep until we are ready to receive it.
He does this over and over again. To be certain the scripture is clear that when the time comes to let us go, he will, rather than force us to accept his gift. But in all this He has and always gives us what we need. He even lets us walk away and not receive his gifts if we believe that is what we need.
The last few years I have used a gift card as the illustration. The moment the gift card is purchased it is valid. Using that gift card is an act of faith. Recently Mary Monk shared that her dad saw God’s Grace vividly in the image of God preparing a banquette for us.
You see unlike us, God does not send out the invitations and wait to see if we agree to come. He prepares the food and sets the table even before he sends out the invitations. He does this because he loves us.
Personally I like the gift card because if the person I give it to does not use it I don’t know it. Some years ago we planned an event (not at Trinity) and I announced that I would cook lunch. More people showed up than I expected and I made sure to increase the amount of food. When I returned at noon with the food everyone except one family were in their cars leaving to go buy lunch. I have to say I was a bit harsh when I reminded them I had made lunch and they all still left and went out to eat.
Here is the thing. God’s Grace is unconditional. Even though I am sure he is saddened by our casting aside his grace, it does not change him. He still is gracious and loving, and would do it all over again because that is who he is. He goes back inside packs up the banquette, puts it in the refrigerator so it will keep until we are ready to receive it.
He does this over and over again. To be certain the scripture is clear that when the time comes to let us go, he will, rather than force us to accept his gift. But in all this He has and always gives us what we need. He even lets us walk away and not receive his gifts if we believe that is what we need.
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