Gathered Grace
Grace has been defined by an acrostic,
GRACE: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
The simple acrostic shares with us God’s plan of salvation through Christ Jesus. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves is a gift of God.”
Once we have received this wonderful saving grace, we begin to live it out with our new life in the everyday. The everyday has challenges as Jesus said in John 16:33,
“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus is saying is that the weather forecast for all of our lives is filled with storms and trouble. There’s a 100% chance of storms. It has been said you are 1 of 3 places: You are heading into the storm, you are in the midst of the storm, or you are coming out of the storm. But the truth about grace is, God gives to us this living grace to help us through the times of storm and trouble. The author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 4:16,
“Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that you may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
The good news is that there is grace and more grace for the storms of life. Grace in times of troubles, trials, and heartache. And all we have to do is just ask. God gives us saving grace and living grace, and I would like to say that he will give us dying grace when that time comes. Jesus says he has gone to prepare a place for us in his Father’s house. We also have this promise in Revelation 21:4-5,
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things have passed away, and God has made all things new.”
Even though we have this wonderful promise, facing death can be an unnerving experience. If this is your feeling, I would encourage you to read over and over Psalm 23:4 where the Psalmist says,
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.”
In our moment of death, Jesus will be there with us to take away our fear and bring to our hearts his great comfort. It will be in this moment that we will realize his amazing grace was all sufficient for saving, living, and even in dying. So let us receive more and more of this overflowing grace. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. For this reason, we may give thanks in all circumstances!
Author: Hubert Nolen
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