What In The World Is Grace?

There is no one
no matter
who they are
no matter
where they are
no matter
how young
no matter
how old.
There is no one
no matter
their successes
no matter
their failures
no matter
how very rich
no matter
how tragically poor.
There is no one
no matter
how great their strength
no matter
how profound their weakness
no matter
if they wield power
no matter
if lost and forgotten.
There is no one
no matter
how religious
no matter
how profane
no matter
if comfortable
no matter
if living with pain
no matter
if all alone
no matter
if loved by many.
There is no one
no matter
who they are
no matter
where they are
who isn’t in
personal
constant
desperate
immediate
need for divine grace.
No one is
excepted
no one is
omitted
everyone is
alike
all live the same
drama
all have but one
hope:
grace!

Grace is a thunderous, expansive, powerful, and life-altering word. Other than God, there is no more important word that the human mind could consider, and the mouth could speak.

Grace is the ultimate spiritual game-changer. It is the one thing that has the power to change you and everything about you. There simply is nothing comparable to God’s grace.

Grace explodes into your life in a moment but will occupy you for all of eternity. 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.

In his famous hymn, John Newton really did choose the best word ever to describe God’s grace: amazing.

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).

Because you are God’s child, grace is something you’ll never deserve but can always expect. Grace is a tool that God uses to transform you, but it also defines the nature of his relationship to you. Grace will devastate you while giving you peace of heart and rest of soul you have never experienced before.

Grace will require you to confess your unworthiness but will never, ever make you feel alone and unloved. Grace will remind you again and again that you have no ability whatsoever to earn God’s favor, but it will dispel your fear of not measuring up.

Grace will confront you with the reality that you are way less than you thought you were while it comforts you with the promise that you can be way more than you ever imagined. Grace will call you to examine yourself with honesty and humility but free you from being paralyzed by fearful introspection.

Grace will ask you to admit to your catalog of weaknesses while at the same time empowering you with newfound strength. Grace will keep reminding you of what you are not, so you will receive God’s welcome to what you can now be.

Grace will make you sadder than you have ever been in your life and give you cause for joy and celebration that nothing or no one can take away.

Grace will blow up your little kingdom of one while it introduces you to a much better, more glorious King. Grace will work to expose your blindness while it gives you eyes to see. Grace will drive you to the end of yourself while it holds before you the promise of fresh starts and new beginnings.

Grace is a person, and his name is Jesus.

God bless,

Paul David Tripp

Reflection Questions

1. How has the grace of God transformed you? Be specific. Look back on your life and rejoice.

2. What sinful evidence did you provide this past week that reveals your ongoing need for rescuing grace? Is there anyone in particular that you owe an apology to?

3. How has grace “devastated” you? What has it exposed about your heart that you don’t want to admit? What weaknesses are you still trying to avoid or ignore?

4. How has grace provided you with identity, peace, and strength? Be specific. How has grace helped you endure the most difficult storms of life with confidence, courage, and rest?

5. Where is grace inviting you to participate in the work of the King? What aspects of your selfish kingdom must grace dismantle first that are getting in the way?