God's Grace: Discovering Jesus

“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, we come to know Jesus.” -From “God Grant”, a daily recovery devotional

While some will read this and pass on by for any number of reasons, I find it to be one of the most inspiring quotes I’ve read. Why?

In my addictions, my lostness, my loneliness, wandering and deep sense of futility I needed eyes to see. I needed my spiritual eyes opened! How? Who cared enough to help- and I mean people who themselves were also as finite and imperfect as I?

I’m fully convinced God opened me up to the truth, the very present reality of the risen Jesus Christ day by day, moment by moment in my life. From my first clarity of belief and faith in Him until now, this continues by His will, love, desire and truly, grace.

More, much more: I began to recognize all good things (see James 1.17) came to me and for that matter any human being via the Lord Himself. I mean physical health, safety when it seemed none existed, the ability to change in my thoughts, attitudes, behaviors toward others, morals, I mean EVERYTHING good was sown, produced, nurtured and brought forth fruit as I repented, believed and in love obeyed Jesus and His teachings in my daily life.

My eyes HAD to be opened by God for me to see anything of reality and His truth.

All of the above happened due to the mercies (note, plural, not singular!) of God during my own ignorance of His heart and desire for me, toward me, and the witness of Jesus and His sacrifice for me, yes, others too, but for me, me in full lock-step with all sinners and messed-up people? Whew!

I became convinced when the perfect, sinless God-man Jesus hung dying on the cross for us said “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing” He not only meant the gentile soldiers or Jewish leaders who had Him crucified but for each and all -including myself. Alleluia!

So due to this incredible mercy I came to know Jesus. But there’s more still…

Some seem to park on their salvation in Him. They shut the engine off. They don’t become disciples. In part the Greek term Jesus uses in John 15, etc., means “a listener, a learner”. The concept that it’s pretty much transactional, contractual and not daily, moment-by-moment relational is simply not what Jesus teaches about discipleship in the four Gospels.

As I read “we come to KNOW Jesus” I immediately think the powerful truth and reality of this is ongoing, that it’s not merely in that moment, that point of my salvation, nor only about "I was/am saved" at such-and-such a time and date, but that I am daily learning more about Jesus, the Father and Holy Spirit, about the mysterious and yet self-revealing God of the Scriptures, via His fingerprints in nature, via others and in personal, daily, regular revelation. It’s an on-going matter to know Him, and as the apostle Peter wrote, to “Grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3.18), and as Jude wrote “keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 21) I so thank God Paul was moved by the Spirit to write “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil. 2.13)

I repeat: ALL and I mean ALL of these things happen by the very grace of God, the desire of God toward us, to win us, not by our intelligence or in our futile attempts to earn God's love in our own power or strength.

To help us grow spiritually and in pursuit of Him Jude writes “keep yourselves in the love of God” and of course this is again all about His grace enabling us to do so.

Knowing Him more and more is our life on earth quest and Bless the Lord, eternity with God and all the saints gone to Him before us.

May you be encouraged daily as you seek Father/Son/Spirit to ever deeper knowledge of the love and mercy of our God!!

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn