for it is written, “rejoice, o barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! for the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” [galatains 4:27]
in the economy of God’s extravagant and (often for you and i) perplexing grace – those who seem the least deserving, the least prepared, the least ready, the least hungry, and the least pursuant of God – are made sons and daughters of God by his will and work. and then, these same undeserving sons and daughters go on to be empowered by and loved by his grace – even when we seem least aware or deserving of his grace.
grace does not make sense.
and, at times it flat bothers us that some sons and daughters that are the least deserving are found and favored by God. but that is grace.
the least – are given intimate relationship with the Most High King – Christ.
the lowest – are exalted and brought into the comfort and power of the presence of the Almighty God.
the most proud and arrogant – are humbled and brought into God’s kingdom to serve and serve with a Servant King – Jesus.
today, may you and i believe and embrace that God’s grace – his presence and power – is for the lowly and undeserving like you and i. when we realize that is who we are, grace upon grace drowns our very being. saturate yourself in his grace today. begin by asking God to remind you that he is with you right now – by his grace. and, read these passages, believing this is his voice, speaking to you – by his grace. enjoy the King o son, daughter of the Most High.
and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. for from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [john 1:14, 16]
through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [romans 5:2]
for if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [romans 5:17]
for sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. [romans 6:14]
so too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. but if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. [romans 11:5-6]
having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; [romans 12:6]
the God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet. the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [romans 16:20]
working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2 cor 6:1]
for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. [2 cor 8:9]
and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. [2 cor 9:8]
but he said to me, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [2 cor 12:9]
in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [eph 1:7]
for by grace you have been saved through faith. and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [eph 2:8-9]
let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. [eph 4:29]
now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. [2 thess 2:16-17]
therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, [2 tim 1:8-9]
you then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. [2 tim 1:1-2]
see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; [heb 12:15]
~ john ryan