“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.”[1]
I love, love, love to read about the evidence of God’s grace in the Bible. The assurance of His grace that I find there is a big part of the reason this blog is called A Measure of Grace.
I am overwhelmed by The Redeeming Grace that not only bought me back from the marketplace of death, but also provided for me an eternal assurance of life with Him.
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
I marvel at His Forgiving Grace that daily offers me another chance to get it right and to live a life of righteousness as I follow Him.
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
I am amazed at His Restoring Grace, which not only takes away what should have happened, but replaces it with His loving plan for me. His grace does not just return me to my original condition in Him, but improves me to be better, beyond what I could ask or even think.
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
I rejoice in His Sustaining Grace that puts my anxieties, my insecurities, my fears, and my troubles in their proper place, and then that same grace undergirds me to bear up both me and my burdens.
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”(Psalm 55:22)
I cling to his Sufficient Grace that takes over when I have run out of strength to take another step. His grace is a tent around me and dwells with me. I am confident that His grace is sufficient for everything that concerns me.
“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 4:16
It is all these affirmations of God’s grace that I see in the life of the Apostle Peter. Peter, who left the life of a fisherman to become a follower, a believer, a friend, and an advocate for the Gospel, was distracted by personal goals, impulsive behavior, and even went through a time of denial of Jesus Christ.
After His resurrection, our Savior demonstrated His forgiveness toward Peter by seeking him out by name to pour out a gracious restoration. As Peter stood to begin his ministry on the day of Pentecost, it was the Lord’s sustaining grace that would order his steps and keep him moving forward. And it was the Lord’s sufficient grace that enabled Peter to minister in the face of opposition. Peter encouraged the Body of Christ in the Book of 1 Peter to understand the source of grace, to humble ourselves before the God of grace, and to walk as good stewards of the grace we have received. What a joy it must have been for Peter to be given the challenge of demonstrating his understanding of God’s grace as he took on the role of pastor in the early New Testament church!
As we celebrate the Risen Savior today, take the time to reflect on His unending grace in your life and rejoice. Christ the Lord is Risen today! He is risen indeed!
The King is coming! Are you ready?
[1] “Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?” (Grace Greater than Our Sin, Julia H. Johnston, pub.1910, Public Domain)