Grace and Kindness

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Ephesians 2; Psalm 95

7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! (Ephesians 2:7-8 MSG)

Paul wanted the believers in the exceedingly pagan city of Ephesus to understand that God loves us, really loves us, and that it was God’s idea and God’s initiative to save us so he could love us even more and longer.

Now God has us where he wants us! He’s adopted us as his kids and he’s given us  eternal life so he can spend all eternity with us, showering grace and kindness on us. That sounds kind of extreme!

I suppose it’s partly my personality, partly my upbringing, and partly other factors that have caused me to drift back again and again into a performance-based relationship with God. But I don’t have the prerogative of choosing the basis of my relationship with the God of the universe. He chose to allow me the privilege of relationship and it’s all his idea, all his initiative, and it’s all on his terms.

In October of 2010, I had a profound encounter with my Heavenly Father in which he redefined my relationship with him and gave me a new and unique Personal Identity Statement! In an intense time of increased self-awareness and God-awareness, my Father gave me this identity: “I am God’s beloved child and he is not disappointed in me!”

He reminded me that he saved me and brought me into relationship with himself so he could shower grace and kindness on me for all eternity. Who am I to question God? I’m “God’s beloved child and he is not disappointed in me!”

Prayer:

Father, Thanks for patiently reminding me again and again of your love. Thanks for making the effort to give me a specific personal identity as your beloved child in whom you are not disappointed! That means so much to me! Not my effort or earning, but your grace and kindness has made me your son. Thanks! Please help all my friends who read this to take another step into the awareness of how much you really, really love them!