March 15, 2010 in Uncategorized with 24 Comments

Amazed By Grace

When you’ve been a Christian most of your life, you learn to live with grace. By living with it, I mean you appreciate it, you acknowledge that you need it once in a while and you count on it when you’ve messed up, but you aren’t impressed with it. After your initial contact with Jesus, graces loses its juice, its shine fades away.

If you are like me, you actually begin to believe that God is getting a good deal with you. You are a good person. You have a good job. You lead a good life. You raise a good family. You attend a good church. You give a good amount of your time and money. You are a low maintenance Christian. Grace is one dimensional, like Jesus on the flannel graphs in Sunday School.

Jesus said it best when he said “He who has been forgiven of much, loves much. But he who has been forgiven of little loves little” Most of us who have been forgiven of much, live like we’ve been forgiven of little…so we love little…we appreciate little…we are amazed by little.

That all changed for me in October of 2005…grace went from assumed to amazing…and I’ll never be the same.

What I find so amazing about grace is that God not only gives it when I need it the most, He gives it when I deserve it the least. I can’t do anything to earn it. I can impress him enough with my good deeds or my Bible knowledge to get more of it. Grace is offered and poured out over me when I desperately need it and when I least deserve it.

There was a time that I thought I’d never be forgiven…grace. There was a time I thought my marriage was over…grace. There was a time I thought my kids would hate me and resent me…grace. There was a time that I thought I’d never be used by God again…grace. There was a time I thought my ministry life was over…grace.

That is where I am today…amazed by grace. I’m amazed by God’s faithfulness when I’m not faithful. I’m amazed by God’s love when I’m not lovable. I’m amazed by God’s goodness when I’m not good.

Grace…unmerited favor…it is amazing.

When is the last time you have stood in awe of grace?

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  • cshell

    Last night! I'm reading "Religion Saves: and nine other myths" Driscoll…last night i read the chapter on GRACE (ironic, huh? nope, not anymore) Anyway, great great chapter, I don't think most christians understand Grace, i don't totally, but I do know I NEED it!

    Because of my upbringing (not an excuse) i totally relate to that post Justin. I have no idea the power of Grace in my life, just a fancy word like mercy, forgiveness, sanctification, justification…i had them all down, they just didn't translate into realtiy in my life.

    Praying I see the Grace that has been given me, ill deserved, but free none the less.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/lightchild Grant Jenkins

    Grace = we don't get what we do deserve while getting what we don't deserve. Thanks for sharing this, bro.
    My recent post Freestyle Friday (er, Sunday, rather)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 davisfamily05

      Thanks bro!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    The last time? About a second ago as I read your post. ;)

    The last few weeks have been a maze of grace for our family. It's been humbling to realize how good He is and how unworthy I am.
    My recent post Social Justice Pharisees™

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 davisfamily05

      It is so humbling when we focus on his goodness and our unworthiness.

  • Rhonda

    I look back over the past four months, the time since I learned of my husband's affair, and I see nothing but grace, grace, and more grace.

    God has continued to pour out his wonderful grace for me and my husband. Through this awful time in our marriage God has created several miracles for us.

    I didn't appreciate God's grace until I found myself near suicide, not knowing how to face each day. I am so grateful to Him for always being by my side, no matter what.

    Thank you Lord.

    • http://twitter.com/JamJ7 @JamJ7

      GOD IS GREAT!!!

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 davisfamily05

        Well said!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 davisfamily05

      I know exactly what you are talking about. For me, it is sad that it usually takes something tragic or life altering to see God's grace. I am working hard to notice Him in the little things these days. Praying for you and your husband and your journey of healing!

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  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/lisamarionevans Lisa

    Wonderfully and well said. Thank you for sharing.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 davisfamily05

      Thank you Lisa

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  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/gritandglory alece

    i need to be amazed by grace again.

    i've grown comfortable in it. used to it. so much so i barely even recognize it anymore.

    i don't want to live like that.
    My recent post the death of dreams

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 davisfamily05

      Alece…we will be praying for you. Thank you for your transparency.

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  • http://www.leftofselfcenter.com Brett

    When I found your site in the midst of a divorce that was thrust upon me. I have been trying to seek reconciliation with my wife but I was faltering and about to give up with the pain being just too much. I had been praying that I didn't understand when I typed in that phrase "Facebook destroyed my marriage." Your piece 8 things that destroyed my marriage hit home to me. I realized that while I was not a fault for the actual divorce, I was quite at fault for my role in the breakdown of the marriage. That is how I stood once again in awe of God's grace.
    My recent post What’s Love Got To Do With It?