Grace Upon Grace

Grace Upon Grace 

Have you ever waded through crowds of shoppers at the store to buy something you needed, only to find out they were sold out? Perhaps you went to your local supermarket for milk and bread after an emergency was announced, but the supply of food had been exhausted and the shelves were bare. It can be frustrating to see that there’s nothing left for you, and when you rely on the world as your source of supply, this kind of thing can happen. But making God our source gives us a supply of grace that never runs out when we’re in trouble.

Grace is unearned, undeserved favor from God, and when we accept His Son Jesus into our lives, we receive that favor. It’s not based on how much money we have, what we’ve accomplished, the mistakes we’ve made, who we know, or where we live. Grace is powerful and real, and He is Jesus Himself. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The world is so accustomed to performance-based achievements through self-effort that it can’t comprehend God’s simple message of unconditional love and acceptance with no condemnation.  But Jesus accepts us as we are. “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself]” (Ephesians 2:8, 9, AMP).

Whatever we could possibly find on earth, whether food, clothing, or shelter, will sustain us—for awhile. Even the “experts” admit that earthly resources are limited, and we must be careful not to exhaust them. But when God gets involved in supplying our needs, there’s no limit. We read one example of this when Jesus feeds thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes (Matthew 14:14-21).

Grace comes from heaven, which has an abundant, never-ending supply of all that is good. Grace can never be exhausted. We don’t have to be superstars or overachievers to receive this free gift. Instead of relying on our own strength, which can fail at any time, we can depend on God’s unlimited power to turn our weaknesses into strengths. “And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God’s grace extends into every area of our lives, and He wants us to flourish and prosper. When we accept Jesus, and the promises made to us through the Scriptures, we are righteous in His eyes. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Psalm 92:12). Lebanese cedar trees are impressive and huge, with many growing more than 80 feet tall and with branches extending out 50 feet or more.

True prosperity God’s way is all-inclusive, and it doesn’t stop at just money. It isn’t bound by the world’s narrow view. Let Him open the floodgates of prosperity!