Ravished by Grace

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Have you ever thought about the depths of God's grace and mercy in your life everyday? Often we overlook the small things that God does everyday. We take Him for granted and the gifts that He brings for our pleasure. Are they really for our pleasure? Only if the gifts include thanksgiving back to Him. When we fail to thank Him, the gifts, instead of being a blessing, can become a idol and a curse. It is easy to go throughout your week and forget about God, but it doesn't take very long to be humbled. Have you ever stood beside a tree and realized that it was planted long before you were ever a thought in your parent’s eyes? What is it about looking at the grandeur and majesty of a mountain that makes me feel so weak? Last week, I was standing in front of the Atlantic Ocean in Jamaica and could sense the power of the waters that were held in the palm of my Heavenly Father's hand. How could I possibly overlook these glimpses of His creativity, beauty and splendor even during the darkest storms of life? As one friend told me, she often finds God winking at her throughout the day in the smallest of ways.

How long has it been since you noticed the Father's love for you? Have you been paying attention to what He is doing and wants to do in your life? Have you been giving God a cold shoulder by not allowing Him to work in your heart? What kind of relationship will someone have who is constantly looking for the wrong and negative in others? Instead of complaining remember, love is patient, kind, is not envious, proud, rude, or selfish, does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love bears all things, trusts, rejoices in truth, always hopes and remains strong.

How can we have this type of love for God? First of all, we love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Upon genuine conversion, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5). As we grow in Christ, we learn "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment and he that fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18) It would be easy to wake up every morning in fear of a storm, tornado, earthquake, flood, death, or a multitude of other things could happen. God doesn't want us to live in a paralyzed state of fear but have purposeful life of faith, hope and love.

A few days ago, the reality of being ravished by grace became much clearer. I was sitting across the table of a man who had been living on the streets of Nashville for six years. He began explaining the way he used to look a life and now how he views it in light of Christ's love for him. He told me that he used to complain all the time, pout, and almost give up by turning to the bottle for his source of strength. He often wondered if God was really there. One day, he began thinking about the hand of God on his life and how he had been protected by so much. As I looked across the table, the world would say this man was nothing, but I believe he is my brother in Christ. He had two front teeth, but a smile and countenance that could light up a room. He had recently been dealing with some type of mouth cancer, but he continues to walk to work the best he can. He told me that things were getting much better in his life. In a few days, he would be meeting with someone who could provide him with housing as he tries to get back on his feet. With a smile on his face and toboggan on his head to keep warm, Eddie (47) enjoyed his meal from the mission and left in laughter with joy in his heart, because he took time to notice the small things that God had done each day for him.

Eddie's story reminds me of the ten lepers who came to Jesus to be healed. All ten were healed physically, but only one turned back to give thanks. I believe the response of the leper's heart proved his spiritual healing. For those who have been touched by Jesus, how is it possible to not to worship "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6) Notice Him. Look for Him. Search. Explore. Discover your life hid with Christ in God. If you look long enough, I promise you that you will see Him today at work in your life whether through an email, a glimpse of nature, a friend, or some silly coincident that wasn't a coincident at all, but a wink from God. Overlooking God would be like standing in front of the ocean and saying, I can't see anything.

Prayerful thought: May the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:18-20