Daily Light - February 21, 2012

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain."

2 Corinthians 6:1

Do you remember as a child receiving something wonderful unexpectedly? It didn't have to necessarily be any thing of great value to others, but it meant the world to you. Perhaps a parent or grandparent took you to get an ice cream. It was such a treat that even now you feel joy as you reminisce about that moment. You cherished every lick or bite of that ice cream. You didn't want to waste any of it. You even went to all the precautions to make sure that none of it escaped through that little point at the bottom of the cone. Wow! That is special!

As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he knew that they had been through great trials and difficulties. They had been on the front line battle with sin, pride, and self. These things had done damage to the entire body of Christ. However, they have dealt with these things and have seen that God's grace is abundant especially in their weakness. With joy they have received this grace and are now moving on to live daily in that grace. Paul feels it necessary to encourage them and even admonish them about this grace.

Perhaps grace is a word that we have used so much that we have lost the meaning. It is popularly sung in many songs and said in phrases by those in religious and secular realms. When grace is referred to in Scripture it is not an empty word. It is a word that bestows love and forgiveness to the unlovable and the guilty. Grace pours out hope and peace to the hopeless even through the chaos of their circumstances. Grace is the unexpected and undeserved gift of God to desperate and undeserving man. When received it is cherished beyond words or emotion. No amount of intellectual musing can fathom the expanse of its borders.

Paul, in recognition of this great grace, implores the recipients to not waste one drop of it. Guard your hearts from those things that would make you get used to this grace. Never let a day go by that you do not return to God and give Him thanks. Live each day to please the one who found you in your unworthy state and made you worthy. This is no mere ice cream cone that will eventually melt away. This grace is eternal, and we will live in it not only in this life but for eternity.