Grace

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it’s a pleasure to write to you on this forum. I intended to write about something else entirely, but I was impressed to write on the topic of Grace.

Let us take a look at the life of 3 people whose lives were touched by God.

Samson

He was the man chosen by God to lead the Israelites. He had the calling of a Nazirite. The word Nazirite is from the Hebrew term nazir, meaning “to consecrate” and has its root from nazar, meaning “to separate.” But he chose to do the opposite, and associated with a Philistine woman. With eyes gouged out, being made a mockery by his enemies, blind and imprisoned, God begins to move there. He realizes that his strength comes from the Lord. Out of the depths, God revives his hope. He was not to die there alone. At the final feast, Samson makes a prayer, asking God to remember him. And God does remember him, gives him the grace to do what he desired.

Grace Enables!

How many of us have come closer to the term of mid-life crisis, depression, a sense of abandonment, hitting the rock bottom, when nothing makes sense? Well, Samson had the best case to be in such a position, but God works in amazing ways, reaches to us in the most unlikely situations. The story of Samson is not of his failure, his lusts or his shame. It’s a story about us. It’s a story of Grace for sinners like us.

Paul

We see a young law student, exceeding his peers, fierce protector of the religion endowed to him by his forefathers, a member of the highest class in the society. Student of the famous Gamaliel. Very brilliant person. And he sees a threat to his religion. More specifically he sees Stephen. A man filled with Holy Spirit, bemoaning the nature of the Sanhedrin, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you! Who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it!”

And as Paul watches the stoning of Stephen and continues his rampage, Grace visits him. God will meet you in the most unexpected places.

Years later, Paul writes, “My Grace is sufficient for you”.

Grace is sufficient to meet all you ever needed.

Jonah

Here was a man, who dared to disobey God after receiving a direct word from God. A specific command is given to him and he does the opposite. But the beautiful thing is his prayer from the belly of the fish.

“In my distress I called to the lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened my cry. To the roots of the mountain I sank down, the earth beneath barred me in forever, but you, Lord my God, Brought my life up from the pit.” Jonah 2:2

Grace is beautiful.

Samson, a fallen hero is mentioned in the hall of fame along with Abraham, Abel and Moses. His life parallels with Jesus despite his sinning. Paul, a violent persecutor preaches the faith he tried to persecute. Jonah foreshadows the life of Jesus Christ himself. This points to one great truth that God works with deeply flawed people to achieve His purpose. He not only worked with men, He became one.

Grace is not a license to sin. It’s a license to righteousness and freedom.

May God bless you!

Gideon Paul Rufus

God’s Love Missions Family