One of the recurring commands of the Bible is “remember” because of how often we as people, especially God’s people, are forgetful. We even forget that we are prone to forget.
Here are some reminders in case, like me, you’ve forgotten: Exodus 13:3; Numbers 15:39-40; Deuteronomy 4:9, 23-24; 6:12-18; 8:11-20; 31:19-21; 26-29; Joshua 1:13; Judges 3:7; 8:34; 1 Samuel 12:8-9; 1 Chronicles 16:12-17; Psalm 78:11; 106:6-15; Proverbs 3:1-4; Isaiah 17:10; 46:3-10; Hosea 2:13; 13:4-6; Ephesians 2:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:8; James 1:25; Jude 17-19.
We forget God Himself.
We forget His character.
We forget His Word.
We forget His commands.
We forget what He has done.
We forget what He promised to do.
We forget His goodness.
We forget His faithfulness.
We forget His love.
We forget His mercy.
We forget His grace.
We forget.
We forget about God because we’re so focused on ourselves. We forget God because we often think the wrong things about Him. We take Him for granted and don’t appreciate Him. We forget that every good thing comes from Him [James 1:17]. We forget because we expect His grace.
We know that God is love [1 John 4:8], so we wrongly assume that He must love us. Likewise, we adopt the false belief that because of His loving character, God must love us as His children. We incorrectly think His gift of grace is required.
And so we forget.
Just like a gift is not necessary to give, God’s gift of His grace is unnecessary.
But like many gifts that we receive for Christmas, birthdays, and other special occasions, God’s gift of grace can become expected. We forget that God’s grace is a gift – an unnecessary and, yet, costly one.
God doesn’t have to love us.
God doesn’t have to rescue us.
God doesn’t have to reconcile us.
God doesn’t have to forgive our sin.
God didn’t have to make promises to us.
God didn’t have to condescend to us.
God didn’t have to suffer for us.
God didn’t have to die for us.
God didn’t have to save us from our sin.
God’s grace is unnecessary.
In fact, as a completely holy God, uniquely different than sinful humanity [Exodus 15:11; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 27:13; 99; Isaiah 6:1-5, 1 Peter 1:16; Revelation 4:8], the LORD could have left us to suffer the consequences of our sin, our rebellious independence, and our selfish idolatry (see Judges 10:11-14). He could have left us to die in our willful sin.
Our salvation was completely unnecessary for Him.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Ephesians 2:1-4
It is by grace – God’s grace – we are saved.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Ephesians 2:5
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.
Ephesians 2:8
God’s grace was unnecessary for Him to give, but essential for us.
Without His grace, we are helpless.
Without His grace, we are hopeless.
Without His grace, we are broken.
Without His grace, we are bankrupt.
Without His grace, we are lonely.
Without His grace, we are isolated.
Without His grace, we are alone.
Without His grace, we are guilty.
Without His grace, we are dead in our sin.
Without His grace, we are eternally separated from Him.
God’s grace is necessary for us.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
LORD, please help us remember YOU because we often forget. Please forgive our sins by Your grace, even though You’re not obligated to forgive. Thank you for reaching out to us and saving us from our sins, even though it was unnecessary. We’re grateful that you did and thankful that You love us. Thank You for your grace! In Jesus Name and by the Spirit, Amen!
Follow me…as I follow Jesus Christ.
following Jesus 