Grace Is
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
(Titus 2:11-14, ESV)
Grace is a thunderous, expansive, powerful, and life-altering word. Other than the word God, there is no more important word that the human mind could consider and the mouth could speak. It is the most transformational word in the Bible that you hold dear.
In fact, your Bible is the cover-to-cover story of God’s grace. It is the best of stories, the story of the undeserved redemption of lost ones and rebels. Scripture records for us how God reached into the muck and mire of our sin-broken world to rescue us, not because of what he saw in us but because of what was in him.
Grace is why God sent his Son into this world to do for us what we could not do for ourselves—to transform us from what we are (sinners separated from him) into what we are becoming (Christ-like and with him forever).
John Newton, in his famous hymn, really did choose the best word ever to describe God’s grace. There simply is nothing comparable to God’s amazing grace.
You could dig into grace every day of your life and not reach the bottom of its power and glory. Grace is the bottomless, treasure-laden mine of divine help.
Grace is a rainbow,
every shade of mercy
splashed across the heavens,
reminding us of your presence
power and love.
Grace is a fountain,
an ever-flowing stream
of cleansing grace,
flowing from the Father above.
Grace is a symphony,
each instrument of redemption
harmonizing with the others
under the grand conductor’s hand.
Grace is a forest,
oaks of righteousness,
whose stature and strength
testify to the Redeemer’s power.
Grace is an ocean,
new waves of mercy
following new waves of mercy,
washing onto the shores of human need.
Grace is a sunset,
colors painted from horizon
to the furthest heavens,
preaching to us of the faithful presence
of the Lord.
Grace is a fortress,
a safe place of refuge
for weary soldiers
discouraged and weakened
in the spiritual war.
Grace is a banquet,
the spiritual nourishment
every hungry soul needs,
lovingly offered to all for free.
Grace is a sunrise,
lighting the morning,
reminding us that sin’s dark night
will once and for all fade.
Grace is a river,
flowing from the Savior,
giving eternal life to all
who humbly bow down and drink.
Grace is a rainstorm,
showers of spiritual blessing,
each drop a reminder of
the generous love of the Lord.
Grace is a promise,
a divine guarantee of the
final and glorious defeat of sin
suffering and death
forever.
Grace is a sacrifice,
the perfect Messiah lamb slain,
complete forgiveness and acceptance
for all who believe.
Grace is a person—
his name is Jesus:
your substitute,
your Savior,
your hope
in this life and the next.
Grace is a diagnosis,
the most accurate description
of human need,
resulting in the only effective medicine.
Grace is therapy,
a process designed to strengthen
the muscles of the heart
atrophied by sin.
Grace is a mirror,
reflecting yourself accurately,
opening your eyes
to the Spirit’s convicting mercies.
Grace is a rescue,
hopeless and helpless,
held by sin,
a Rescuer comes to do for us
what we could not do for ourselves.
Grace is a gift,
given to the undeserving,
who have no ability to earn
the favor the gift contains.
Grace is a invitation
to run no longer from God
but to run to God
and be washed clean by his mercy.
Grace is our biggest need.
If sin is the disease,
everyone is sick.
Humbly reach out:
the grace of the divine physician
is your only cure.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16, ESV)
A Prayer for Today: God, would you help me to see with fresh eyes the wonders of your grace? Would you mold and transform my heart into a vessel that continually asks and grasps for the only cure that could ever rid me of the disease of sin? Help me to run to you, fully recognizing that in you alone is where my heart will find all it wants and needs—your amazing grace. In Christ’s name, amen.
God bless,
Paul David Tripp
Discussion Prompt for Children
How would you feel if you were given a gift that you didn’t deserve at all? What if you felt like you deserved the exact opposite of the amazing gift that was given to you? How is God like the giver of an undeserved gift?
Reflection Questions
1. How has your definition of grace fallen short of what the Bible explains it to be? Why is it so important for you to keep digging into the bottomless, treasure-laden mine of God’s grace for you? What kinds of practices can you put in place right now and in the future to continually explore the richness of God’s grace? Take some time to brainstorm and write down a few of those ideas.
2. When you process the truth about God’s grace, what word pictures come to mind that help you more deeply appreciate how amazing his gifts are toward you?
3. How has God’s grace made you feel: safe, fulfilled, joyful, rescued, awestruck, fortified, cleansed, grateful, satisfied, loved, humbled, included, and healed? Feel free to process more about how God’s grace has impacted you and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for all that he’s done for you through his grace. Now, re-read Hebrews 4:14-16 and reflect on how Jesus understands all of you, what you’ve been through, what you’re currently facing, etc., and is able to sympathize with you on every level. Admit your weaknesses to him and with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace.