that is the grace

Three minutes was all the time it took. Three minutes and my heart was tenderly broken by these words. Three minutes and I was gently reminded of the grace under which I stand. Even though the words of this video can stand alone, I was urged to write them out. One . . . by . . . one. Letting them sink a little deeper. I wanted to make my heart remember this because it is far to incredible to be so quickly dismissed.

- The script from the video above, by Matt Chandler  -

Our default position as strugglers is to believe that God is disappointed and frustrated.

That He simply is tolerating us.

The apostle Paul in Ephesians one says, no, no, no. . . before the foundation of the earth was laid He was going to adopt you, make you holy and blameless in His sight. So, whether difficult days or good days, God’s at work, God has not abandoned you in this difficult season.

HOW AMAZING DOES THAT MAKE OUR GOD?

That in our hypocrisy He is long suffering with us? In our inability to live out all that He would call us to, He continues to lavish upon us His grace?

In Him we have redemption through His blood; the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight. 

I love this word lavish: extravagant . . . plentiful . . . over the top. And so now, when the Bible’s talking about forgiveness it is saying that His grace in forgiveness is lavished.

His grace in forgiveness is lavished.

As though it’s too much. It’s ridiculous, a ridiculous amount. It’s over the top. It’s out of control.

Man or woman of God in Christ who is struggling, God does not regret saving you!

He doesn’t regret it!

You haven’t surprised Him, you cannot surprise Him. God is not watching where you are now, watching how you’ve struggled this week, watching how you stumble and fall and regretting the decision to pay the price for you in full. You have no sin, past, present, or future that has more power than the cross of Jesus Christ.

This means that your salvation wasn’t just a past event alone, but that Christ even now is continuing to save you. He didn’t forgive your past sins and now has left it up to you conquer present and future sins.

It means God can rescue! It means God can save!

And it means for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, you do not disgust Him. . . you do not disgust Him.

“Well, you don’t know what I struggle with and how deplorable it is.” Well, I know that Jesus would say that He paid the bill in full, and so what you’re saying is nonsense. That is the grace with which He lavished on us in His forgiveness.

THAT is the grace.