By Christopher Dryden
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20-21 ESV
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV
You could get that impression.
Abound. It’s not a word that’s in regular everyday usage. It’s a terrific word though. A few of us were reflecting on it and someone came up with a beautiful image of a lush countryside with lambs leaping from part of the pasture to another. The freedom, the unrestrained leaps, and the enthusiasm in that picture were very helpful in giving us an idea of what abounding is.
Put that word before the word grace and we are invited to consider an even more amazing picture. It’s more than a picture, it’s the amazing movie about life in Christ. Saved by grace, now there’s an invitation to be a part of His incredible mission to let the world see His rule in action. To help with that everything that we need that we could never come up with, that we’re unable to earn, is at our disposal. Everything. Not only is it at our disposal but God takes delight in sending it leaping unfettered in our direction to our minds, hearts, and hands so we can accomplish what He has sent us out to do.
There is no lack with God because His character is one of great generosity and grace. We don’t even have to beat ourselves up about not deserving it or being totally inadequate. We don’t have to live in that position. We can gracefully and enthusiastically rest in all that He’s given for us to get the job done. And therein is the wonderful connection that Paul encourages the church in Corinth. We don’t have the resources and wherewithal to do the work – but God gives it to us exactly to do the work.
Notice as well how the abounding grace is for use to abound in every good work. It’s as if there’s a connection between the two. As if getting something so enthralling and enriching should motivate us to be about the work God calls us to do in an enthralling and enriching way. As if we too are not hindered by anything and are granted the liberty to declare and demonstrate the wonders of the God who gives and does not hold back. As if we are not content to keep it in one small area of life, we want it to spread to every corner of our sphere of influence and we want that sphere to expand as we put on display the wondrous grace of God.
You could get that impression.
Ask: According to what Paul says in Romans 5, what is abounding grace?
Seek: Abounding grace enables you to abound in Christ – what does that look like for you on a daily basis and what does it look like in your local Christian community setting?
Knock: We’re grateful for the grace that abounds, we seek to operate by that grace to abound in all areas of life that God leads us in, offer a prayer connecting to this truth so you can abound today.
(Upper Photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Davies Designs Studio on Unsplash)
