Seeing Grace

Image courtesy of optimisticjourney.com

Song writer John Newton (1725-1807) wrote these words in the song Amazing Grace:

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.

Anyone who has experienced the power of God’s grace in their life will easily identify with these words. For many, the challenges of life can be like the obstacles salmon face swimming upstream. I once watched a documentary on salmon and the Black Bear. The Black Bear will wait upstream for the migration of salmon. As the fish hurl their bodies through the air in an attempt to navigate their way home, the Black Bear with a swipe of its huge paw smacks salmon after salmon onto the shore. There on the shore as the salmon flop helplessly out of water, the bear will gorge itself on the omega rich eyes of the salmon; that’s all the bear craves! No matter where I’m going in my life, the direction for me is upstream. Like the salmon, I’m on a path that leads me home. Along the way, there may be dangers, toils and snares, but like the song says, “I’ve already come…” That’s the magnificent quality of God’s grace, no matter the circumstances we face in life, grace leads us home. Some lack confidence in redemption because they don’t understand or know the scriptures, but even a blind man can see that “Jesus saves”. I can say, “I once was blind, but now I see” because I know I lacked vision to see the truth illuminated by the light of Christ. I lacked the ability to recognize the goodness of the Lord. When I hear someone say, “God is good”. It isn’t some catchy cliché; it’s the revelation that acknowledges how God works all things together for good… We’ve all been shocked and surprised at various times in our lives. I read some of the blogs written by Christians after the national election that indicated shock, dismay, and discouragement. But the truth is that God is never shocked, dismayed or discouraged; God is never caught unaware of events that occur in life. To every man is given a measure of grace. That’s what I need to know. That God has extended Himself in such a way that He is easily capable of reaching me and measuring the exact amount of grace my life so desperately needs. My grace is sufficient for you. It’s more than you’ll ever require! That’s what those words say to me. Should I pray for more grace? Why? I've already been given enough grace by Almighty God to get me through anything I face in life! I should utilize the grace God has given me and rejoice that I have more than enough to conquer the Black Bears in my life. I’ve seen enough hatred, bigotry and racism in a lifetime of living. I could easily say, “I’ve had it up to here with that stuff”, but I realize that just as Jesus said we would always have the poor, there will always be sin in this world until He returns. Like those who condemned the woman caught in adultery, we can just as easily be ready to stone someone because of our own self-righteous attitudes. But the truth is there is a very thin line between salvation in Christ and self-confidence. I pray that in this season of Christmas we Christians actually turn a corner and walk in a manner that befits being called the sons of God. I pray that we give grace as easily as we have received it. That we actually demonstrate to the world our capacity to love and forgive; that we remember that Jesus said, “You are the light of the world”. If I see grace as it really is, I will see that it will lead me home. A Note of Thanks: I would just like to say that I appreciate each of you who visit My Thought-filled Journey. Taking time out of your schedule to read a post on this blog is encouraging to me. Many of those who visit, will from time to time leave a comment. Whether a comment is left is not important. What is important, is that you came. I do hope you find encouragement and inspiration in these words. Please know I will pray with you regarding any circumstance you may be facing. Feel free to write me to say "Hello", request prayer, or share what God is doing in your life. I have not said it enough, but thank you for the light of Chist in your life which illuminates the way for us all. by MTJ

Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte).