Exceedingly Abundant Grace (1 Timothy 1:14)

Today’s scripture: 1 Timothy 1:14

I went through a Bible study a couple of years ago, and the author of the study wrote about “superabundant grace.” Not just abundant. Superabundant.

That’s what this verse says: “the grace of our Lord [is] exceedingly abundant.”

His grace is so far beyond what we can imagine. It is so far beyond what we deserve.

We’ve talked about this a lot over the last few weeks: We do not deserve grace. We just don’t. We are sinful, willful, prideful; we are flawed and broken. And we deserve eternal separation from God.

Yet, God loves us so very much that He offers grace. It would be enough if He offered just enough grace for salvation. But He lavishes grace upon us. He showers us with superabundant grace. Exceedingly abundant grace.

Think about it: How are you blessed? What has God given you?

A home? A family? Friends? A job? Food? All of the above?

Those are just the tangible things. What about forgiveness? Mercy? Comfort? Everlasting love? His never-leaving presence?

Exceedingly abundant grace.

Pen to Paper (2 Peter 1:1-3)

Today’s scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-3

Letter writing is a lost art. And that’s kind of sad. We live in a world of email, texts, and instant messages. Nothing is being written down any more. Our children—and their children—won’t find a stack of letters wrapped in ribbon chronicling their parents’ courtship. Generations to come won’t read of friendships from a distance.

And it is sad. Think about it. What if Paul or Peter or John didn’t write letters? What if they’d lived in a time of IMs? What a loss that would be.

Today we start digging into 2 Peter, and from the first few verses, we are immediately encouraged. Read through these verses again. Peter prays for multiplied grace and peace. Overwhelming, abundant grace. Soul-soothing peace. And how are these multiplied? Through the “knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Knowing God—Father, Son, and Spirit—more and more intimately day by day.

And why should we desire that knowledge? Because He loves us and “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness …” Our glorified, excellent Father God grants us life. He provides for our needs. And He grows us daily to be more godly, more like Christ. But we must seek to know Him more. And that means spending time in His word. Time communing with Him in prayer. Time worshipping with other believers.

And maybe time writing down what God has done in our lives. Maybe writing a letter? With a pen? On paper? Just a thought.

True Grace of God (1 Peter 5:10-14)

Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 5:10-14

How sad … We leave 1 Peter today. I don’t know about you, but this little book has been encouraging, affirming, convicting … sometimes all at once!

What an appropriate closing, though. Yes, we will suffer “for a little while” as we inhabit these earthly bodies during our temporary stay on earth. While we’re here, God will “perfect, strengthen, and establish” us. Every day we’re on earth, we must strive to be more like Christ, knowing our ultimate reward is spending eternity with our Lord.

So as Peter wrote two thousand years ago: “… this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”

Wow! (1 Peter 2:9-10

Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10

I love these verses. I really, truly do. There’s so much hope, so much goodness, so much grace. I’m not even sure where to start …

Read these words again and again. We’re chosen, royal, holy. We’re God’s precious possession. He’s “called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Don’t you love it?

Oh, but don’t stop there. We are the people of God. We have received mercy.

Mercy. Not receiving what we deserve.

And what are we to do in return? “… proclaim the excellencies of Him.” Praise and worship our great God. And why wouldn’t we? We are chosen, my friends. We are holy in God’s eyes.

I hope you love these verses as much as I do. Mark them. And when you feel unworthy, remember them.

And praise God.

Final Prayers from Paul (2 Timothy 4:19-22)

Today’s scripture: 2 Timothy 4:19-22

As we wrap up this journey through Paul’s second letter to Timothy, I pray the same for you as he did for his protégé.

I pray the Lord will be with your spirit. No matter your circumstances, never forget that God is with you (Deut. 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5; Ps. 27:9; Heb. 13:5). Jesus is helping to bear your burdens (Matt. 11:29-30). He will give you an overwhelming peace (Phil. 4:6-7). The Holy Spirit will work in you to manifest His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).

I pray God’s grace will shower you. We know salvation comes from grace (Eph.2:8-9). But God’s grace—His unmerited favor—covers you each and every day. As He blesses you with a roof over your head (whether you own your home or are renting a room in someone else’s), with sustenance, with relationships, remember it’s because He loves you. None of us deserves God’s grace, but He loves us so much He chooses to bless us abundantly (Eph. 3:20-21).

And so I pray along with Paul:  "Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen" (Eph. 6:23-24).

I Am Worthy ... and So Are You (2 Thessalonians 1:5)

Today’s scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:5

Sometimes I feel so very unworthy of God’s grace. Although I know God truly has used even my most grievous mistakes for good, I still sometimes wish I’d made different choices.

And it would be enough that God saved me, that He welcomed me back in spite of the years of heartache I caused Him. But somehow He sees worth in me. He chooses to use me to help grow His kingdom. He allows me to impact lives.

So how can I complain about suffering? Suffering is part of this fallen world. And though I don’t look at my daily pain as punishment for choices I made, I shouldn’t be surprised by it. Pain and suffering are everywhere. I am not immune.

But if I can look at my pain as part of God’s plan for me, knowing that it keeps me more focused on Him and that others are encouraged when they see my faith through pain, then I can accept it and trust God through it.

I believe God has a purpose for all things. I believe He will work all things for good. 

Grace to You (1 Thessalonians 5:25-28)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:25-28

Grace. It’s the greatest gift we receive from our Lord God. Unmerited favor. Receiving something amazing even though we don’t deserve it—at all.

I feel so tremendously blessed that God’s grace covers all my sin—past, present, and future.

His grace covered me when I deliberately turned my back on Him, when I went my own way over and over again.

It covers me now when I falter. And I do falter because no matter how I strive to live as Jesus would want, I still sin.

As much as I’d like to think I won’t sin in the future, I know that probably ain’t gonna happen … (Forgive my poor grammar, but it just seems to fit!)

Yet, God’s grace covers it all. It’s a gift I don’t take lightly. I do my very, very best to honor His gift by surrendering my life to Him daily. By doing what He’s called me to do. By serving Him and others. By offering grace to others.

It’s the least I can do.

God's Richest Blessings (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 2:4-7

Yesterday, I wrote that if we’re not following God, we’re following His enemy. We’re “dead people walking.” But when we commit our lives to Christ, we are “made alive.” And it’s because of God’s love, His mercy, His grace, and His kindness.

God loves us so very much, and He freely showers us with mercy, grace, and kindness.

Mercy … “compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power.”

Grace … “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification.”

Kindness … “the quality or state of being kind; favor; benevolence.”

We don’t deserve any of these precious gifts. We don’t deserve being “seated with Him in the heavenly places.” We don’t deserve His love.

But He does love us: "God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die" (CEV, John 3:16). That’s how much He loves me. That’s how much He loves you.

Have you accepted God’s amazing gifts of love, mercy, grace, and kindness? He’s waiting.

Justified (Galatians 2:15-18)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 2:15-18

We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. And it’s more than just believing that Jesus lived. It’s believing that He’s part of the triune God, that He came to earth and took on flesh, and that He died to pay the penalty for sin.

When we have that faith, that confidence in God’s grace, then we are justified.

There’s nothing we can do to gain salvation on our own. We can’t do enough good things. We can’t memorize enough scriptures. We can’t serve in enough soup kitchens.

It is only by grace—God’s unmerited favor—that we can be assured of salvation and of our spending eternity with our Lord God.

And when we’re justified, when we’re saved by God’s grace, we will seek to live as sinless as we possibility can. For Jesus is not a “minister of sin. In fact, even in flesh, He remained without sin. And it’s because of His perfection that He could pay the penalty for our sin.

That’s grace. That’s justification. And it’s ours if we sincerely accept Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation and commit our lives to Him.

Abundant Grace (2 Corinthians 8:9-15)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9-15

Grace. Unmerited favor.

We are so undeserving of God’s grace. We are so unworthy. We fail so often. We listen to the lies of the world. We compromise truth.

And yet, God sees worth in us. He loves us so much He offers grace and forgiveness even when we don’t deserve it.

Our Savior gave everything for us. Everything. He gave up heaven to come to earth. He took on flesh and experienced temptation. Pain. Fatigue. Sorrow. Death.

All for us. All so that we could receive grace.

Oh, we have been so abundantly blessed because, not only does God offer grace to those who seek Him, but He also gives us strength for each day. He provides for our needs—not our wants, but our needs. He gives us peace and comfort through times of affliction. He loves us unconditionally. He never leaves us alone.

It would have been enough if He’d only offered grace, but He chooses to give us so much more.

No matter what you’re going through right now, God is with you. He’s walking alongside you, every minute of every day. He’s there to hold your hand—and sometimes to carry you—when you just don’t think you can just don’t think you can make it on your own.

You have been blessed. Abundantly.