Unmerited Grace

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:28 

  

  I have been unable to break my dog of the habit of barking his head off when the mailman comes to our home to drop off mail. Our dog knows the approximate time the mail will come, and he sits quietly on the back of the sofa watching and waiting by the window. Then he leaps at the window and barks like mad when the mailman arrives.  

  The mailman is a great guy, and on the occasions when my dog is outside the mailman gives the dog a biscuit and my dog acts like they are old friends. Yet back indoors the next day the dog is barking crazily again. I told my mailman recently that he should not give the dog a biscuit as he doesn’t deserve it. Yet our mailman continues to be kind to the dog anyway. 

  We do not deserve the grace and kindness of our heavenly Father. Too often we “bark” about life and “snap” at others made in the image of God. We gripe about our condition, look for excuses to complain, and yet God continues to be kind to us day after day, year after year. 

  Grace is a wonderful word. By its power there is given to us riches beyond our just desserts. We cling to grace because we know we need it. We ask for grace because we know it is the only way we can be saved from our sins. For try as we might, we can never earn God’s favor. 

  Like my little dog, who cannot cease to bark at the mailman, our human nature is so flawed that we continue to fall short and sin. We never fully behave as we ought. Such sinners need God’s mercy and grace.  

  Rely upon the Grace of Jesus Christ day after day. Remember that grace, and show mercy and kindness to others for God has given unmerited grace to us.  

  Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have given us grace, help us to never take it for granted, and help us to offer that grace to others. Amen.