The School of Grace

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
April 10, 2024
2 Corinthians 12:9 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I have been blessed to be asked to officiate a wedding of a sweet young couple from my church. In preparation for their marriage, I found a wonderful marriage counseling guide in a book entitled Six Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs To Make by Paul David Tripp. In chapter 16 I found a wonderful quote for all relationships, and I hope you will find it encouraging and challenging at the same time; “This side of heaven, we will never graduate from the school of Grace”. That is something I need to repeat to myself every day. Isn’t it easy to allow our emotions and our pride to move first instead of going to our wonderful God of grace and mercy? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us; “Rejoice in the Lord always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. Pretty tall order I think, but, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I know life will be much more peaceful and I can be a brighter light for the Kingdom if I will endeavor to follow this instruction. The Apostle Paul, again, writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God told him; “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. It’s all about grace, God’s grace. Grace, He extends to us so we can do the same for others. It’s an everyday challenge. Dr. Tripp puts it this way; “Every day the fallen world, in all it’s brokenness, presses in on us and makes life more difficult and complicated than it was originally designed to be. Every day we are called to fight what is wrong and give ourselves to what is right. Every day we are called to humbly examine ourselves and to commit ourselves to change. Every day there is some issue for which we need the insight of biblical wisdom. Every day we must surrender what we want to the better agenda of what God has commanded. Every day we are called to love each other in ways that are practical and specific. Every day we are called to love when the other person doesn’t deserve it. Every day we need to look for ways to communicate encouragement, appreciation, and respect…”.

So, when you find yourself today and everyday struggling to learn and apply God’s grace, perhaps a song could help you along, it helps me; “Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin” (Grace Greater than our Sin; “Sing To The Lord” 1993 hymnal pg 84).

Amen!