Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me..
Have you ever received a gift that you know you don't deserve? Have you ever wronged someone yet you were forgiven without you even asking for it? That is grace. The dictionary defines it as a feeling of favorable regard. But God's grace is more than just favorable regard. God gave me grace because He loves me… even if I know I don't deserve it.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ dies for us. (Romans 5:8)
And I know what kind of sinner I am -- with the things I've done in this lifetime not pleasing to God, I deserve to rot in hell. But God thinks otherwise. He said that I deserve His love and that is why He sent His only begotten Son, the One thing most precious to Him, to suffer instead of me. Words are not even enough to describe what kind of love He has for me. I am awestruck at how this God who created the universe, would care for a speck of dust like me. Like, sino ba ko? Walang kwentang tao. I haven't really done anything right. Yet God reached out to me. I don't even need to do anything but believe that HE IS GOD and that He gave His Son to save me from MY sin's punishment. How can you not be in awe of that?
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
..I once was lost, but now am found..
Although I wasn't really lost. I was more of hiding from God. Because of sin, I didn't want to talk to Him, I didn't want to commune with Him.. I just didn't think He'd want me to even go near Him. God is pure and holy while I am filthy and broken. He doesn't have a need for someone as low as me. But once again I am in awe at how God thinks differently (eh kaya nga sha God in the first place..). He doesn’t care that I am a sinner. All He cares about is that I go back to Him and surrender everything to Him, every aspect of my life and He will cleanse me. I just need to let Him take control of my life and let Him lead me through all my decisions and all my cares. God doesn't mend broken hearts -- He gives us a new one and with this new heart comes rejuvenation.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)
…Was blind, but now I see.
None of the things I'm reading or studying now about God is new. I've heard and seen all these a thousand times over. But it has never made any impact on me until now. Why? Maybe because God has given the grace and cleansed me from my sins. Because I believe that God thinks I am special enough to be saved. I've grown through Sunday School and have almost memorized all the Bible stories but only when I accepted God and truly decided to surrender everything to Him, is He revealing Himself to me. Now the Bible stories are more clear. Those are not merely put there to entertain. It shows about the character of God and His great great unfathomable love for me. And now I can see that. This God who created everything my eyes can see loves me. He sent His only Son to save me from the punishment of my sins. He wants me to rest in His presence. He wants to bless me. He wants only the best for me. He wants to provide for all my needs. Even though I was a sinner. How can I not love this God back?
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect I weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)