It is really funny when and how inspiration will spark. One night my wife and I were watching BBC’s “Blue Planet II.” The intro monologue of the episode “Open Ocean” captured my attention and caused my brain to spin with ideas. It felt like I had discovered a song that had already been written and I just had to pause the show and be sure I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget it (praise the Lord my wife is so gracious and understanding … we finished the show about an hour or so later).
If you have ever been out in the ocean far enough that you can’t see land, you will know that it is a slightly uneasy experience. I am not one who typically dwells in fear, but the thought of being out in the wilderness of the open ocean with the shore miles away from me and the ground hundreds of feet below me is terrifying. There is no controlling the ocean and your life is at the will of its mighty expanse.
A.W. Tozer writes in his book “Knowledge of the Holy” of God’s attributes. When describing God’s Infinitude, Tozer explains that any thing that God is, He is infinite of that thing. To explain that it a less head spinning way, God doesn’t have limits and nothing CANNOT exhaust anything he has to offer. When applying these thoughts to God’s grace we realize that we cannot exhaust the grace He offers to us.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” - Ephesians 2:8
“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” - Exodus 34:6
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16
What is wild is that I am fearful of not being able to receive grace because of my sin and shame. However, the scary part of God’s grace is I can’t control it, understand it, earn it, or exhaust it. My human nature tells me that I have to work hard to receive the favor of God and to have his love, grace, and salvation, but there is nothing I can do to earn it. It is completely out of my hands. I am so thankful for JESUS for doing what I could not and giving me the opportunity to receive grace and mercy, not by my works but by His. I can receive it at the lowest moments of my shame and whenever I need it. I am given grace that is abounding and endless that no amount of failings can exhaust. The grace and favor of God is beyond my control but when I am found in the name of Jesus I find my life in the mighty expanse of His Grace.
Looking for songs about God's grace? Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:
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