How many blessings does God give you and me each day? I do not think that we could begin to count them. From each breath of air, to family members, to food and shelter, to the very sunshine on our skin, each is a gift from God, not an innate privilege earned by right of being. The words of God clearly teach that all good comes from God; the oft-neglected truth though is that God is not giving me something I have earned - everything that He gives is a gift; in the bookkeeping of eternity I am always in His debt.
Think about it with me for a moment: have you done anything today to specifically merit the breath of life? Have you, through your actions, earned your family? To say that I have would be not only presumptuous, but preposterous as well. These are loving gifts of Mercy, not due rewards of Justice.
I have had some few, well-meaning people misunderstand me, and assert that I do not believe in the Grace of Jesus Christ. Yet I look at my life, and all that is a part of it, and say, "how could I not believe in grace?"
I submit that Grace is just not some abstract, Divine "thing" that at the end of mortality covers my innumerable sins and grants me a seat in heaven. It is a vital, living, active part of my very present existence. I need Grace - without it I receive nothing.
For the truth is, I am nothing. I do not deserve any of my fondest hopes and dreams, from a loving spouse, to a family of my own, to a place with my Father in His Eternal Home. I cannot say I have earned them, and so I cannot justly claim them as mine. I am totally dependent on the grace of my Savior for all this, and so much more. My only hope is in getting more than I deserve.
And thankfully, wonderfully, that is what Jesus Christ gives me; each and every day, and for the eternities as well. He is the Redeemer, one who pays debts He did not incur for people who will never have the ability to pay Him back. Every moment of my life is changed and made possible by His grace. I owe Him everything - but He isn't collecting. This is part of what Grace is to me.
What of works? Well, that is a subject for another post; but in parting let me ask you this: what would be your reaction and attitude towards One who saved your life and the lives of your loved ones? What would you give in return?
