Here in this institute where excellence is upheld and integrity is a byword, it is encouraging to see that in every start of the week, we ask God for His favor and His grace in our work. That although our country is now becoming a highly secularized state with the increase of opposing narratives coming from the extreme liberals and post-modernists of varying tendencies, we still recognize that somehow, there really is a God up there whose grace we need to invoke.
And even if, for most people, grace is misunderstood, that is always a good start.
Grace. In the Christian perspective, it carries a great weight. This is one of the concepts that is highly misunderstood. In matters relating to salvation, people can not grasp the truth that we need not work for eternal life because Jesus already accomplished that. We just have to receive it by faith. The saving grace of Jesus Christ as publicly demonstrated in the Cross of Calvary is already absolute and final. And any attempt at adding to the work of Christ is an insult to His sacrifice.
Yes. That's why it is hard to understand.
People seem to find alternatives thinking that we don't deserve God's grace, that's why we need to work hard in order to get saved or gain favor from God. People become motivated by reward or fear of punishments, by the appeal of charity and doing good works so that we get God's attention. This shouldn't be so. When in fact God requires that we do that because of love for Him and for other people.
I do not say that we should not do good works, but that our motivation to do good works is because we love God who loved us first. And because we should be in awe of His grace, we can't do nothing but love Him and serve Him with all our hearts. Because we experience God's grace, it should manifest in our lives as well. It should pour out naturally, not driven by emotions or human impulse.
Grace makes it possible for us to feel God's love. Grace enables us to connect with God, and do great things for Him.
John Newton composed the song "Amazing Grace" in the 17th century. But the words still ring true today.
As it was ever since the beginning of time...
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Your grace brings me to my knees...
No comments:
Post a Comment