Grace – what a simple word, but what a powerful meaning. I throw this word around more than I should. Today, it hit me – I am here by the very Grace of God. By His grace He has saved me and by His grace He is using me. The very idea of it stopped me in my tracks. I often get so caught up in my own swirling vortex of stuff that I can’t see what’s going on around me, but today God grabbed my attention and I just sat in awe that it is by His grace that I will serve Him.
I won’t do it for man. I won’t do it for me. At least, I shouldn’t. I think it’s so easy to get caught up in the hoopla of life that we forget who we serve – a risen Savior and it’s the power that raised Him from the dead that is available to us. Amazing stuff, isn’t it? I don’t pretend to be a scholar, I’m not. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, I don’t. But this, my dear ones, I do know. I serve Him by His grace and by grace alone. I’ve taken other routes — all bad.
I’ve served for the praise of men – it doesn’t last.
I’ve served for my own selfish gain – doesn’t work.
I’ve served because others thought I should – I failed.
I’m in awe that God would still chose to use me, after all my failures. But for some reason He sees something in me that I can’t see. He chooses to use me this cracked, leaky, broken vessel of a person who’s slipped up more times than I care to count (and I’ll probably slip up a few more before this life ends).
So, I’m off to lead Bible study and I almost wrote “my” Bible study – arrogant me! God nudged me and I quickly removed the “my” part. I will stand before the ladies tonight and we’ll laugh and talk, but I will also thank God that, by His grace, He has allowed me to serve Him in this way. And I pray that I will only serve by His grace and only serve where He calls me to serve.
It’s called Grace and it’s amazing.