Grace

I remember my childhood days when I was in grade 3. We lived in a secluded area; dad was pastoring a small church with few members. There was no SDA school around, the only one available was a public school. My dad did not want my sister and me to attend that school, so he asked one of the church members who happened to be a teacher to come to our house and homeschool us. Our teacher was a a very kindhearted, soft-spoken middle-aged man, gentle and patient. Sometimes we didn't perform well in our study. We played when we should have been learning, we teased one another, and the worst thing was that we also annoyed our teacher by teasing him. In spite of all that, he was very patient and never got mad.

I recalled one day, while my dad was gone for visitation, my sister and I were being homeschooled. We sat facing our teacher. There was a table between us, and suddenly something terrible came into my mind. I poked my teacher's nose with a dip pen, but my kind teacher was not angry at my misbehavior. Meanwhile, my dad was coming home without me being aware of his return. He saw everything I did to my teacher, and he got very displeased. He said, "Never do that again; it's impolite and disrespectful to your teacher. You have to apologize for what you have done to him." That was not all; he punished me so severely. My sister, who was three years older than me, was mischievous too, and she was also punished. My father tied my hands with my sister's hands and placed us under the table. While sitting under the table I cried. I felt sorry for my mischievousness.

Anyhow, the story had a happy ending. Before sunset, he untied our hands. My dad said, "Do you realize what you have done? I said, "Yes, I do; I feel sorry. Please forgive me." Then my dad hugged us; he kissed us and prayed for us, asking forgiveness from God, and he said, "I also forgive you, don't ever do it again." Afterward, he went to the bedroom, when he came back, he held a small box in his hand. I was curious and wanted to see what was in the box. Then, he opened the box's lid, and I saw a pair of new shoes in it. I had longed to have new shoes to replace the old ugly ones, and now I got them. Did I deserve to receive such a gift after doing such a naughty act? No, I didn't. I didn't deserve it, but my dad forgave me and gave me that special gift. The new shoes were a matter of 'GRACE.' My dad gave me what I did not deserve. He showered his love and favor to this naughty boy, and I enjoyed the GRACE he showed me.

The dictionary defines GRACE as "courteous goodwill, neither asked for nor deserved, but is freely given." On the cross, Jesus offered GRACE for all human beings. Our sins have been forgiven through His sacrifice, and His GRACE saves us. We don't deserve salvation, but it's freely given. GRACE is God's unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV), we read, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." God is not punishing us for our sins. He is not mad at us when we make a mistake. If we come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, He will grant it; He will forgive us for all unrighteousness, he will favor us with GRACE.

Ellen White wrote, "We all need to sow a crop of patience, compassion, and love. We shall reap the harvest we are sowing. Our characters are now forming for eternity. Here on earth, we are training for heaven. We owe everything to GRACE, free GRACE, sovereign GRACE. GRACE in the covenant ordained our adoption. GRACE in the Saviour effected our redemption, our regeneration, and adoption to heirship with Christ. Let this GRACE be revealed to others." Testimonies for the Church, volume 6, p. 268.

What a beautiful story of the GRACE that God has lavished on every one of us. GRACE has been given to us. GRACE for forgiveness, and GRACE for life. Let us accept it before it is too late.

Hiskia Missah
Editor


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