Amazing Grace

It’s amazing that people whom we strive hard to serve treat us with contempt while God embraces us for the smallest effort. That’s grace for you. It’s not that God doesn't care about how we serve Him. But God accepts the fact that we make mistakes; we get distracted or we’re just plain slow to catch on. God doesn't excuse failure without consequences, nor is He indifferent to it. God recognizes weakness exists side by side with sincerity and works to turn that weakness into strength. God is not as willing as men to throw people away. In fact, He continues to invest in people long after they have cast Him away. He sends the rain on both the just and the unjust because He’s willing to bless without regard to the return on His investment.

Grace is not dependent on works, that is, it is not earned and cannot be earned. You don’t have to do x, y, and z to find favor with God. It’s only necessary to receive it by faith. Amazing. Jesus told His disciples, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” There’s no requirement for the recipient to prove himself worthy. Grace gives without regard to merit. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”