For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ephesians 3:14-19 (KJV, my emphasis)
Grace. That’s the Word of the Day and every day. There has never been a day since Adam was created that we do not owe every breath, every heart beat, our eternal lives to God’s grace. Grace is God’s unconditional love for every one of His children. He gives His love freely. We can do nothing to earn it. We can reject it and walk away from His love (just as Jesus told us in His story of the prodigal son). But if we turn and come back with repentant heart (just as the prodigal son did), God is waiting there with open arms to welcome us home with love freely given yet again.
What happens when I am rooted in God’s grace? What happens when I give up trying to figure out how to earn this wonderful gift and accept God’s grace with both hands? What happens when I soak up His love just as a thirsty plant soaks up the sun, the water, and the soil’s nutrients through its deep roots?
I grow. Instead of trying to find my own way to live a life that is full of life, when I sink my roots into God’s love, I am assured of an abundant life that has nothing to do with my circumstances. I may find myself planted in an isolated “crack in the world†or a seemingly small plant in a vast field of bright, showy colors. If I grow in God’s love, then I will grow where I am planted and be what God intended me to be. It is when I respond to God’s love by listening and obeying and just spending time with Him that I find that I grow and mature, becoming stronger in Him.
I leak. As I fill with God’s love, this love fills all the empty spaces in my life. His love nourishes all the dry, lonely spaces and heals the cuts and bruises to my heart and spirit. And when that happens, I begin to “leak†on others. God’s love runs out of my mouth, my heart, my hands and feet. I will find myself speaking and doing things that I would never have said or done.
It is a totally awesome experience when something comes out of your mouth and the person to whom you spoke – their face just lights up or the heaviness slides off their shoulders. And you wonder to yourself, “Where did that come from?†Or you feel a urge to call someone or pick them up a flower or drop off some cookies. There’s no reason, just know you are suppose to do it and it makes a huge impact on them. That’s God’s love leaking out of you on to a thirsty world.
God’s grace is right here. I don’t have to call it up or beg for it. It’s here and now and in an unlimited amount. It strengthens, heals, comforts, activates and answers God’s forgiveness. God is love. God is here. Grace is here.
Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone written and sung by Chris Tomlin
