2020 Daily Devotion - Day 173

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Another wonderful aspect of grace is it is freely given to us. It cost God the cross, but it is free to us. We are to regard it as “costly grace” and never “cheap grace” as Dietrich Bonhoeffer would say. The Prophet Isaiah has a wonderful description of just how free this grace really is.

Isaiah 55:1-3 RSV
“Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Too often, we think the grace of God can somehow be earned. Many think all of the good things they do will earn them a reward. But the Prophet Isaiah reminds us we cannot earn it. It is a free gift purchased at the cross of Jesus.

What I really appreciate in this picture of grace is when the text says, “Eat what is good and delight yourselves in fatness.” This is a wonderful picture of grace. It’s like we have this wonderful meal and when they ask us if we’d like some cheesecake for dessert; we say yes, and in fact will have seconds. We delight ourselves in fatness. This is a little of what grace looks like. Through Jesus, this is all yours.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we live in a world where we earn everything and so it is difficult to understand Your grace. Give us a new understanding of Your grace. Help us to “delight ourselves in fatness”. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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