God of grace and God of glory, may those two precious gifts shine in the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today is from Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
I have recounted the story of our visit to Wesley's Chapel in November of 2005 when we were given a quick tour of the chapel and of John Wesley's home. The gracious man giving us the tour said that the baptismal font at Wesley's Chapel was given by John Newton, who had worshiped at one Sunday service where he was converted and this conversion was so powerful he had returned home to his plantation in the Caribbean and tried to free his slaves, but not before sending a step from that plantation home as a symbol of the power of God to convert. Well, the story line was good and correct, but the man in question was not Newton but a man named Nathaniel Gilbert. Newton, however, still knew the power of God's grace to help us rise above our sin nature into a new creation, thus the famous and favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace." Among the precious lines are contained the words, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me." While the word wretch is not a commonly used word, it describes our condition when we are away from God. From the misery of sin that can and does make us unbearable, God can set us free, and what a sound that is.
Grace is God's gift of a second or third or fourth or millionth chance in this life. John Wesley would call this God's prevenient grace, the love that seeks us and even though we don't deserve it, God give us love and freedom in forgiveness with nothing expected in return. Those who know love, know that we love God in return and we should love others as a result of that change. "All of this," Paul would write, "is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:18). We can leave the state of sin and enter the state of grace, through God's amazing love we call grace.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me rise above that which holds me down in misery and affliction. I know it is the result of sin. I have sought answers and comforts away from You and I no longer want to be here; grant me new lifre through Your grace; through Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
