S A T U R D A Y Hebrews 4 v 16
Let’ s look today at a) Grace is so unrealistic. Jesus, in His teachings, tells many great stories and makes so many statements to illustrate the freeness of grace. Remember that Jesus was telling these stories and making these statements to people steeped in ritualism and legalism, i. e. the Pharisees and scribes had made a god of the law and this resulted in a burdensome religious experience.
One of my favourite parables that Jesus told is the one in our Bible reading this morning. He speaks of a shepherd who has one hundred sheep, but loses one of them. He says that the good shepherd will leave his remaining ninety-nine sheep in the hands of a hireling, while he searches for the lost one. This would have confused His audience because they would have known that that would have been a risky thing to do; hirelings could not be trusted and might steal some of the sheep, and that there were wolves out there who may well have taken advantage of the absent shepherd. They in short would have thought this to be a story of“ risky economics”. BUT, this parable was not told with economics in mind, it was told with grace in mind. For many of His listeners they would have said,“ Ag, Jesus get real! That story is totally unrealistic!”
Sadly, for the world today( where everything has to make sense and be logical), grace just doesn’ t get the time of day because it is considered to be unrealistic. But remember the verse in Isaiah where God says,“’ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.”( Isaiah 55 v 8) – O! The wonder of unrealistic grace!
Prayer Thought: Today as you pray, thank God for His unrealistic plan of salvation – don’ t try too hard to understand it( although it does make absolute sense); just revel in it and be grateful.
S A T U R D A Y Hebrews 4 v 16
Today I would like to deal with part two of the Dilemma of Grace. Simply to say that grace seems so undeserving.
This has to be the most amazing dynamic of grace. To believe that my personal performance and abidance by the law does not impress God at all. After all there is no way in our wildest dreams that we could ever, humanly speaking, match God’ s standard for holiness. God demands perfection and therefore that leaves us way short of impressing God by trying to“ be good”. There are some amazing verses in Scripture that speak of the wonder of this underserving grace. One of my most favourite is Hebrews 4 v 16,“ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need.” It’ s a beautiful picture to think that God’ s throne is called the“ Throne of Grace”. The picture we have for us is one that we sinful human beings are able to approach at any time, knowing that we will be welcomed with open arms. Please note that it says we can approach this throne with confidence because of what Jesus has done on our behalf and not because of our