When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court.
The judge asked, “Guilty, or not guilty?” When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, “That’ll be ten dollars — a dollar for every mile you went over the limit.”
Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. “You have violated the law,” he said. “The fine must be paid–but I am going to pay it for you.” He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! “That,” said Billy Graham, “is how God treats repentant sinners!”
Ephesians 2:8-9
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.
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!
That is one of the very first definitions of grace I was ever told and I have never forgotten it. We live in a society where you are rewarded because of what you have done. You work and you get a salary. You go back to school improve your level of education and you come back get a better position and better pay. That is what we are accustomed to. No wonder we sometimes have a hard time understanding the God of grace. We sometimes still feel we need to do this and that to be saved and honestly we sometimes put the same pressure on others.
Paul clearly tells us that it is by grace that we have been saved through faith and this is not of ourselves but a GIFT from God. Grace is getting what we do not deserve, we all deserve death because the wages of sin is death and yet God in his mercies has extended life to us through Jesus Christ.
Just like with the Billy Graham story God has paid the price for us and to top it up He has gone on to prepare a place for us in His house and he has set a table for us in the presence of our enemies!
God’s grace I still being extended to you today, He is a God of grace willing to embrace you and give you the very best for all eternity though you and I don’t deserve it. Make use of the opportunity while the grace is available and even then do not abuse it.
WORD FOR TODAY: A God of Grace- God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
