Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see. ‘Twas Grace that taught, my heart to fear. And grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.
Countless times we have heard of God’s amazing grace, even sung about it and some of us fortunate to embrace and experience God’s grace. But life today has no space for grace. It is quite easy to forget grace as we go along the journey of life in Christ pushing and expecting life to happen in our own strength. Eliminating Grace not only strains our relationship with God but also complicates it so much we question our faith.
Have we lost sight of the grace that began this journey of faith in Christ?
Relationship with God begins with grace and is sustained by His grace. Any attempt to walk the Christian journey without Grace is not only tiring and exhausting but also futile.
For it is by grace (God’s remarkable compassion and favour drawing you to Christ) that we are saved (actually delivered from judgement and given eternal life). And this salvation is not of yourselves (not through you own effort), but it is the (undeserved gracious) gift of God; not as a result if your works, so that none will be able to boast or take credit in any way for his salvation.
(Ephesians 2:8-9 AMP)
Many reject the gospel because they imagine it is too difficult or impossible to live by the ‘rules and regulations’ of the bible. Others cannot comprehend a God who would die for for their sins. Their rejection is based on deception that the Christian life is lived out in their own strength. At the core of their rejection is a lack of understanding of God’s grace well veiled and camouflaged with seemingly ‘valid’ reasons and excuses.
For a long time, I rejected the gospel because it seemed so hard. I hate hypocrisy and I was just not ready to say I was a follower of Jesus yet live a life contrary to what I said I believed in. I remember telling a friend who gently invited me to attend fellowship and give my life over to Christ, that it was not yet my time. In my twisted understanding of walking with God, I still had to enjoy my life completely before I could give it all up to come into relationship with Christ. Looking back at my thought process at the time of that conversation, it is evident that I didn’t understand salvation is by grace. I had no idea or knowledge of God’s grace.
Four years later, this grace was evident when I decided to come into relationship with God by accepting Christ as my Lord and saviour.
Looking back at my idea of enjoying life, it is no surprise that I rejected Christ countless times. That supposedly ‘enjoying life’ was characterised by deep emptiness on the inside that binge drinking, wild nights in the club, lies, sick and wrong relationships were supposedly to cure. With no identity, or true compass for direction or guidance, getting onto this destruction cruise ship was inevitable. The answer I was searching for had come to me countless times but could not recognise it even right before my very own eyes. His amazing grace never gave up on me, never stopped pursuing me and finally I escaped the lure of sin and the world in its overwhelming darkness. His grace got me out of that darkness and into His wonderful light. The remarkable reality is His grace kept me alive on that destruction ship I had embarked on. His grace never stopped pursuing me. His grace covered me.
Jesus Christ is the true compass for life here on earth. He is that North you are frantically looking for. He is the true light of the world and without Him life is dark, shallow and meaningless. He alone can fill that void and emptiness on the inside. Embrace His grace and say yes to life with Him.
Salvation is the revelation that a saviour is needed ushering one into gratitude for what God accomplished on the cross through Christ Jesus, redeeming us from death into everlasting life.
On the other side of the initial yes to Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour, we still need to continuously embrace His grace. Salvation is only sustained by grace, the same grace that started it. I don’t know at which point we forget this fact and reality of God’s grace along the journey. It is not easy to really embrace God’s free forgiveness of our sins even when we truly repent. There is an inner struggle accepting that He does not really see or treat us as our sinful lives deserve. This inner struggle hinders God’s children from fully coming into the precious promises of their heavenly father and enjoying the blessings of being a child of God.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and loving kindness. He has not dealt with us according to our sins (as we deserve), nor rewarded us with punishment according to our wickedness. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His loving kindness toward those who fear and worship Him (with awe – filled respect and deepest reverence) As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103:8-12)
Again, God’s grace has to come in to help us embrace God’s free forgiveness and to fully delight in Him as His children. I honestly struggled for a long time to embrace the reality of how much Jesus had done for me on the cross. I did not feel worthy of His grace and love. The truth that grace is not earned but simply accepted was foreign to my nature and definitely has taken in its time settling in my heart. Simply being a child of God was so difficult for me but over time, grace has been teaching me to embrace being a daughter of the most high and the blessings that come with being His princess.
Yes, I sung about this grace, I heard about this grace, thanked God for His grace but struggled to accept it. This affects our view of God and inevitably our prayer life. I remember asking God for a God fearing husband. I understood that He had to prepare me for this kind of man, but secretly I didn’t think I was worthy of the very kind of husband I dreamed and prayed about. God answered and gave me much more than I imagined in a God fearing husband.
His grace got me one of heavens finest. There are still times I catch myself observing my husband and thinking how gracious God has been to bless me with a man of His calibre. The kind of marriage we share and enjoy is purely by His grace. I cherish those moments of reflection and acknowledging God’s grace evident in my life today.
Child of God, understanding and embracing God’s amazing grace is not optional but necessary for you to really worship Him as you ought. His grace is what will propel you to enjoy the many precious blessings that we inherit in Christ. Your prayer life requires a healthy understanding and clarity of God’s amazing grace. The boldness and confidence to approach the throne of grace to find mercy and help in your times of need requires you to embrace His grace.
A poor understanding of grace will hinder a believer from enjoying a great relationship with Jesus. An unhealthy understanding of God’s grace will cause one to abuse this amazing grace.
Well then, should we keep sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 NLT)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your amazing grace that saved me, leading me to acknowledge that I needed you, I needed a saviour. Lord, I pray that I never lose sight of this grace ever, as I walk with you. Continue to teach me to embrace and accept your grace over my life. I pray for everyone who is still struggling to embrace your amazing grace. Help them Lord to embrace your grace.
In Jesus name, AMEN.