God’s Amazing Grace

Scripture:
Psalm 14:2-3 — The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Observation:
God’s grace is amazing. These verses tell me that when God looked down from heaven He saw total depravity. All have turned aside, have become corrupt, no one does good, no one understands or seeks God. He would have been justified to send another flood or some other catastrophe and wipe us all out. But instead He chooses to love us in spite of our sin. He chooses to send Jesus to us even though He knew what we would do to Him. He let Christ, His son, die for us with the full knowledge that we could never pay Him back or come close to deserving that love. He gives us eternal life and His presence daily even though we still find ourselves turning aside, not doing good, being corrupt, and not seeking Him. That is amazing love.

Application:
That amazing love isn’t just for people in general, that love is for me. I am on just like these verses describe. I am like Isaiah said, “on my best day my righteousness still is like dirty rags before Him.” I am forgiven and I live every day because of God’s amazing grace toward me. Right now I sense a need and desire to be more thankful to God for what He has done. Sometimes I forget how bad I have been and am. But now I am reminded of my total dependence upon God’s grace. I also sense a greater desire to give myself to God. He has been so good — He deserves my life in return. I know I can’t earn His favor nor can I earn my way into heaven. But I would at least like for Him to be able to look at me and say, “There is one who is seeking — he doesn’t understand it all, but he is trying to get it right more and more every day.”

Prayer:
Lord, I just say thank you for Your great love. Thank you for forgiveness in Jesus. Thank you for grace and mercy that are new every day and don’t run out. Thank you for not giving up on me even when I have given up on You. Thank you for so many undeserved blessings that come strictly by Your grace. Father I want to be pleasing to You. Forgive me for my sin and my foolish and unwise choices daily. Cover me in Your grace. Grant me the strength through Your Holy Spirit to live for You. I want to understand. I want to see You. I want to do good for You. but I know that has to come from Your spirit in me. Have more of me today than You have ever had before. I don’t want Your grace toward me to be in vain.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor