Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” This verse frequently brings back a memory. Rice is the staple grain in the country of Liberia, West Africa, where my family and I lived as missionaries for 7 years. If you bought rice from a street vendor, the normal purchase quantity was by the cup. The way the cup was measured is an illustration of the grace of God - a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The vendor would pour the rice until the cup was heaped full with grains flowing over the side. The illustration only carries so far - eventually the cup is as full of rice as possible, while the grace of God is limitless and never stops flowing. Grace is unmerited favor, being given or receiving something not earned or deserved. Because grace is given by an infinite, eternal God, it is limitless, overwhelming, abundant. This idea is expressed in Ephesians 2:7, “so that in the ages to come (eternity) He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Before we focus on aspects of God’s abundant, overwhelming grace, let’s consider an important warning from Paul and two areas where an abundance is not in our best interest. Paul’s warning is found in Romans 6:1-3, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” Simply put, we are not to abuse grace and Paul viewed the idea that sinning so that grace could increase as an illogical and sinful mindset. Using a current illustration, sinning that grace can increase is akin to exposing yourself to infectious diseases so that your use of antibiotics can increase. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible to be freed from the penalty and power of sin in our present lives; and, from the presence of sin in eternity future. Scripture is clear that we are to resist sin and avoid it, not presume upon the grace of God by deliberately seeking out sin. Looking at the next topic, is it possible that having an abundance of something might not be in our best interest? Scripture says, “Yes, it is possible.” One of the most dangerous abundances that we face is that of possessions, “stuff,” wealth - whether in trying to obtain it or relying on it. No one said it more clearly than the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 12:15, He expressed it this way: Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” He illustrated this in verses 16-21 with the parable of the rich man whose focus and confidence was based on the size of his barns and not the condition of his soul. Paul gives another aspect of warning in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” In recent times, the uncertainty of riches has become an uncomfortable reality for many. This uncertainty is illustrated by this little saying, “Money talks; this I can’t deny. It spoke to me; it said ‘Good-bye.’” The other dangerous abundance for us is pride. The “pride” Scripture warns us against is not the feeling of satisfaction we get when we do something well. The pride the Bible warns us not to imitate is typified by king Nebuchadnezzar, who was clearly warned about pride by the prophet Daniel, but ignored the warning, as recorded in Daniel 4:28-30, “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 Twelve months later (after Daniel’s warning) he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’” The king’s ego (Easing God Out) jumped into first place. But God quickly got his attention in Daniel 4 - an unplanned, 7-year break from being king. The outcome of that period of judgment is found in Daniel 4:37, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” But there is no danger of “too much” or an overabundance where grace is concerned. You just can’t have too much of it. God’s grace is extravagant, overwhelming, limitless and available. Grace has multiple aspects, and is given according to God’s will and for specific needs and purposes in the life of a follower of Christ, according to Ephesians 4:7, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” How does this play out in our daily lives? We are responsible to use the abilities and talents which God has given us for His purposes and His glory, Romans 12:6, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly...” The Romans passage continues with a short listing of spiritual gifts, e.g., prophecy, serving, teaching. God expects us to put the gifts and talents He has graciously given us to use for the benefit of others and for His glory. Scripture also is clear that God’s grace will always be more than adequate for the task at hand. Look at 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed...” Grace given by an infinite God has an infinite supply. Because of God’s grace, we can come to Him without fear and with confidence (Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”) Going to God for help is not like going to your boss to ask for a raise or asking your wife if you can go golfing instead of mowing the lawn. Another aspect of God’s grace is the ability to live for God, to carry out a ministry, or simply go through a day, despite difficulties and challenges, especially when we feel inadequate. Paul expressed this in 2 Corinthians 12, where he asked God three times to remove a “thorn in his flesh” and received the answer that God’s grace was sufficient to deal with Paul’s weakness. Earlier, we looked at the danger of an abundance of pride. In context, Paul’s thorn in the flesh (lots of guesses, but we don’t know what it was) was given to him as a blessing. He had been given a spectacular revelation by God, one that could easily have inflated his ego and threatened his ministry. The “thorn” graciously prevented this from happening. One of the times when we likely feel most inadequate and most need God’s grace occurs when we should extend forgiveness to someone and we just don’t want to do it. It is at points like this when God will remind us of the forgiving grace we have received from Him (more about this in a moment). Often, we don’t become aware of the provision of God’s grace until we’ve gone through a time of challenge, done something we didn’t think we could do, overcome fear or doubt - ask ourselves, “How did I do that?” and realize that God was there all the time. Scripture is clear that the most meaningful aspect of God’s grace is His provision of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9, “8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” And, as I suggested earlier, if we have received forgiving grace from God, it should motivate us to extend that forgiveness to others. It is not surprising that John Newton titled his best-known hymn, “Amazing Grace.” God’s grace is amazing, inexhaustible, overflowing, wonderful, and, most meaningfully to us, available.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:14:22 +0000