Great Grace

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…” 1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

At our chapel service at Morning Star Assisted Living we sang the chorus of the old hymn “Grace Greater Than All Our Sin.” The words declare, “Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within, grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.”

As I reflect on those simple words, the depth of them are not to be taken for granted. As Paul wrote this letter to the Church at Corinth, it was appropriate for him to give thanks for God’s grace to those in this “city of sin.” Paul will shortly remind this church about those who will not “inherit God’s kingdom.” He lists these sins,

“…neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10 ESV)

But Paul continues and says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV) Washed, sanctified, justified because grace that is greater than ALL our sin!

God’s grace transforms our speech and our minds. Paul says of the Corinthians,  “….in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge..” (1  Corinthians 1:5 ESV)

It is through God’s grace we have God’s power and receive gifts and have hope. “…you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1 Corinthians 1:7 ESV) Paul later in this letter will address the importance of spiritual gifts and provide instructions as to their use and caution against their abuse.

Then we see that grace sustains and guards our lives and enables us to have fellowship with the Lord.   “…will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:8,9 ESV)

Our sin and our failures remind us that we cannot achieve perfection in this life. We need the sustaining power of God’s grace to keep us connected to Him and moving forward in our life as Paul said, “toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

We can, like Paul, not only be thankful for the Lord’s grace extended to others, but we can be thankful for His grace that has been and is extended continually to each of us!

Prayer for today…. Lord thank You for Your amazing grace. It is what we need in our lives more than we realize. We so easily fall short, but we are not condemned because You keep us by Your grace that is greater than all our sin.