Grace Poured Out Like Rain

Over the past month, we have been doing a word study in our Seeking God Daily Facebook Group. If you have not already joined, feel free to do so here, as well. We love making new friends! Before you go, grab the free resources here for our Grace Study. Our word study is focusing on the word grace and I have been learning the deep need for God’s grace poured out like rain in my life and the need to others.

Let’s explore the gift of Grace together.

Often times when I am studying God’s Word with others, I hear them say they know this or that to be to be true… but… they don’t take His words and keep them for themselves. This can often be said about grace. We struggle with grace because we know deep down who we are and we don’t believe we deserve it. If this is you… keep reading, I have great news!

Grace by definition is the unmerited favor of God. The two defining points of grace that really stand out to me are to find favor or kindness by God bending and stooping in kindness. It is amazing how He isn’t some far-off God but one that will bend and stoop to His people and show them kindness.

The other definition is the divine influence on the heart and its reflection in the life. An influence that I certainly desire.

Old to New

We see in the Old Testament this idea of God stooping or bending down to show His kindness a lot. I love it. From the stories of Noah and Joseph to Ruth and Esther. God leaning toward His people to show His grace. To rescue them, even if they may not have deserved it, because of His kindness and goodness.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8 (KJV)

I just can’t help but imagine what if Noah had not found favor with God. Humanity would have a totally different story.

How does this translate into the new? God sent His One and Only Son to die for us. To save His people from their sins.

Why? Because they were good people. Because they didn’t deserve death. Sadly, No, Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)

I am so grateful that #Christ didn't wait until I got my stuff together. I am so #grateful He didn't wait until I was ready and that He loved me in spite of all that I have done. #SeekingGod Share on X

Because from the old to the new He restores. He restored my old soul and made it new (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Just as He did throughout the new testament.

From Peter, Oh Peter, the restoration He received after He denied Christ three times and Christ called Him out by name to restore Him. To build His church. To be called to a Holy calling.

Paul, once named Saul, He took all his wretchedness and made Him a new man. A man that would write over half of God’s inspired words in the New Testament.

His Undeserved, Unmerited Grace

So if you are here today and you don’t think you deserve God’s grace, it’s okay. I have felt like this way so many times, even this week, I have had such a hard week, But God… He shows up in every moment and reminds me of His grace.

The first thing you need to realize when it comes to grace is it is not deserved. You did nothing to merit God’s favor.

You get grace because God’s chooses to give it. He chooses to give it not because He has a supply of it to give but because it is who He is.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)

God is full of grace. FULL. He doesn’t have a sprinkling to give and He limits it to go here and there. It is not a tank that runs out.  This word full means complete. In Him grace is complete. Grace to its fullest. So that is why when He gives grace it pours because it is pouring out of His fullness.

I was thinking about this word full last week. And it came to me that even if God did just give me one sprinkling or one drop of grace, it would be full. It would be a drop of complete grace and it would be all that I needed.

That is pretty awesome. I don’t deserve it. And as wonderful as you are. You don’t deserve it either. (I said that with love.)

Just When You Think it Might End

There have been times, when I have thought, “I can’t believe I have messed up again.” Seriously, how long is God going to put up with me?

And I wonder for a moment, is this going to be it? I mean He can’t possibly have any more grace for me.

But then I am reminded of this beautiful verse in John.

Out of his fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. John 1:16 (NIV)

There it is again. Out of His fullness. His complete grace. On top of the grace that He as already heaped upon my head in its place, He has poured out more. Amazing!

Living With My Past 

For a long time, I lived in a cycle of sin. I knew it was wrong because the Holy Spirit was convicting me of my life but in an attempt to live my life according to my own selfish desires, I ignored it. Knowing I accepted Christ as my personal Savior but I would go on living for myself.

I actually believed I could ignore God and live life on my own.

My greatest fear was that I had become so deep in the trenches of my sinful life that I was too far away from God for His grace to reach me.

I thought I had messed up beyond repair. So, I kept on sinning. What was the point of changing if I had already messed up this much?

Paul addresses this thinking in his letter to the Romans.

What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? By no means! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2 (BSB)

The idea that we are forgiven and so it doesn’t matter how we think, speak or act is what Paul was addressing. He is saying, No way! We cannot just keep living, however, we please.

We Are Called to a Holy Calling

The underserved grace that we are given calls us to live a holy life. It calls us to a life set apart from those around us.

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time–to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT)

Friends, if you are still looking for the great news in this story, here it is. If you have put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ to be Lord over your life, you have been saved. You have been called.

The greatest news! He did this!

I did nothing to earn it.

We can do nothing to work for it.

I did nothing to deserve it.

That is such a relief. You can let your belt out a loop and breathe with me. Because I would have blown it so many times by now. I can’t do enough. I will never be enough to deserve the grace, the unmerited favor, of God.

Yet, as His child, It ours out on me like rain. He gives it because it was His plan to give it before the beginning of time. It is His love and greatest joy to give His grace to His children.

Hallelujah! I am jumping for joy right now! You with me?

Friends, I hope this encouraged you to press on and press into Jesus. There you will find His grace!

Personal Reflections:

1. Do you feel trapped in your sin with no way out?
2. God’s Grace was not just made available to the people of the Bible but is available fresh for you, do you believe that and live like you believe it?
3. What do you do with God’s grace? Do you keep it for yourself or pour it out on others?
4. What is one thing that you have done this week that you can point to God’s grace getting you through?
5. How has God’s grace had the biggest influence on your life?

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