I said,
“What… no charge… Are you sure?” The answer came back, “Yes, definitely sure.”
I was a little speechless and stammered out, “Well,… why is that?”… to which
the response came back, “Because you’re special.” Now, I know better than that.
This was an uncalled for, unasked for, unlooked for, undeserved gift that
caught me off guard and surprised me. This same thing has happened to me
several times in the years I have lived in Bar Harbor – from other providers. The
other people around me must have wondered, “Why does he get the special treatment?
This was
a vivid display of grace. It’s similar to the way God’s grace works… unlooked
for, unasked for, and undeserved favor given by God… just because He wants to
and because it brings Him delight to do so.
It was
easy for me to delight in the words, “No charge… it’s free today!”, in that
office. And I couldn’t wait to tell people: first Joanne and then just about
anyone else I could find. I wanted to let them know about this great experience
I had had earlier in the day. And being able to tell about it increased my
delight in it.
I’ve
asked myself since that day, “Shouldn’t you have at least the same kind of
delight in God’s grace to you in His Son?” And, “Do you have the same intense
desire to tell people about God’s grace to you that you had to tell about the blessing
of that day?” Those are really good questions for all of us who have received
grace from the Lord. I think it is meant to be delighted in and described with
joy to others. After all, how much more has the grace of God worked in my life
as my sin debt has been paid in full by Jesus on the cross? Way more than I can
even begin to describe! I begin to understand Paul’s exclamation, “Thanks be to
God for His indescribable gift!”
May His
grace be your greatest delight! Amen!
2 Corinthians
9:14-15 (NIV) 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out
to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks
be to God for his indescribable gift!
Ephesians 1:4-8
(NIV) 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the
world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he
predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious
grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished
on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 2:4-8
(NIV) 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich
in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead
in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And
God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show
the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ
Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
PRAYER: Father, thank you for your amazing and
wonderful grace to me in Jesus, your Son. Thank you that he paid the debt on
the cross that I could not pay, and gave me the free gift of eternal life
through his death. Lead me to delight in such grace, that its joys will be
freely expressed from my lips. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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