‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’ – 2 Corinthians 9:15
THOUGHT:
Reading the Book of Ephesians recently I was struck by the number of times Paul refers to the grace of God. Our text says, ‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’ Ephesians 2:8 states that grace is the gift of God. No wonder Christians can sing enthusiastically the hymn “Amazing Grace!” Ephesians reminds us of four ways God’s grace can help us.
- Saving Grace – ‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ – Ephesians 1:7. ‘It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!’ – Ephesians 2:5 NLT
No one deserves it, but anyone can receive it. Never think you can make it without God’s grace, the mistake the Galatian Christians were making – ‘When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace’ – Galatians 5:4 The Message. Grace keeps our feet firmly on the gospel road, helping us against any temptation to get to God any other way.
- Serving Grace
God’s grace is given to help us function as a Christian within our church and community.
The Inclusion – ‘Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ’ – Ephesians 3:8 NIV.
The same gift of grace that means anyone can be saved also means that anyone can serve. Even Christians with a low estimation of themselves can experience God’s grace helping them to serve.
The Inspiration – ‘By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him’ – Ephesians 3:7. Effective service is dependent upon Him and not on our ability. ‘We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves’ – 2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT. Do not focus on the shortcomings of the container, remind yourself of the power of the contents!
The Intention – ‘I am sure you have heard that God appointed me to share his grace with you’ – Ephesians 3:2 NIRV. Serving grace is for the benefit of others. ‘Each one of us has received a gift of grace. These gifts are given to us by Christ’ – Ephesians 4:7 NIRV. The purpose of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers is to train church members to do the work of the ministry – Ephesians 4:11-12. One of the best ways we can help others is through what we say. ‘You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear’ – Ephesians 4:29 NET. The question is, “Do our words lift people up or put them down?”
- Sustaining Grace – ‘May grace be given to everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that will never die’ – Ephesians 6:24 NIRV.
Grace not only starts us off on the Christian life but keep us through it, even in our darkest hours. When Paul was battling with a messenger of Satan, three times God reassured him, ‘My grace is sufficient for you!’ – 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians, ‘That from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit’ – Ephesians 3:16. Paul’s parting exhortation to the Ephesian elders reminded them of sustaining grace, ‘And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself’ – Acts 20:32 NLT.
- Showing Grace – ‘He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come. His grace can’t be compared with anything else’ – Ephesians 2:7 NIRV.
After King Hezekiah had been miraculously healed, he welcomed ambassadors from Babylon and gave them a tour of his treasure houses. ‘There was nothing he did not show them’ – 2 Kings 20:13. This will be true for us in the ages to come as God shows us the exceeding riches of His grace. The wonders of this world can be astounding but nothing in comparison to the full revelation of God’s grace and kindness towards us.
Who in their right mind would willingly reject this amazing grace, so freely offered? Yet sadly many do, usually out of ignorance, but some knowingly insult the Spirit of Grace. If the godless captain of a slave trade ship can end up writing the hymn “Amazing Grace”, then you can experience God’s grace too! All it took was a cry of “Help!” and if you will do the same, you will find that God’s grace is more than enough to save, heal, help, bless and keep you!
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