A Bit on Grace

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go." Matthew 18:23-27

The servant in this story was in posession of a debt that he could not pay. He would never be able to pay this debt- and it was a great one at that. Yet when he asked his master for mercy, for a little time to take care of this debt, the master took pity and forgave him the whole thing. He didn't give the servant more time, or the means to make the money to re-pay him, instead he just forgot the whole debt- the whole amount. When I first read this it struck me as a nice story of mercy, and justice in the end, and about being able to forgive those who offend you.

Yet when you really read it, when you really read this part, this is so much like God, and what he has done for us. We don't deserve God's love, or eternal life through Christ. As failing humans, we deserve death and punishment and an eternity in misery. Yet our God took mercy on us and showed us compassion and has forgiven us all of our debt. All of it. By falling on our knees and asking him for forgiveness of our sins, not only does he forgive us, but he also grants us an eternity in paradise. That is grace, all the way. And God's Grace knows no limits. It doesn't matter what horrible sins we've committed, God's Grace will erase them from existence and accept us into His presence.

His love for us is great- so great. I don't deserve His grace, but I am thankful for it and gratefully fall to my knees in adoration. I am His servant, and He holds my heart.