This month has been quite a month. In between unpacking after a move, travelling for my dad’s funeral, as well as other arrangements that need to be made, while still trying to parent and work, needless to say it has been a challenge and a half. Normally, because May is my birth month, I am usually quite excited about it, but this month, I felt like I didn’t even have the time or energy or emotional capacity to be excited about anything.

Then I travelled to my home country, and to my dad’s home town for his funeral. While at the house, I went to his room, and found a notepad with a note he had handwritten to me! It was written many years ago, but it was possibly the first time I was actually seeing the original note (He had sent me the message via text as I was away from home at the time, but I did not know he had also written it out). It was quite poignant seeing his note to me, in his own handwriting. It was a birthday message, and in it he wrote a couple of things, including some things he desired for me. He ended the note with the words:

“May the God who is in you lead you and empower you to achieve these smoothly and effortlessly, and every other dream of yours, to bring you smiles and pride. I am praying for you. Happy Birthday! Check your Account later. I am proud of you.”

I felt quite emotional reading this, especially given that it was the first time I was travelling back to my home country knowing I won’t be seeing him anymore (at least not alive). However, discovering this note was really encouraging, to know that he was praying for me, thinking about me, and wanting the best for me. I realised something else though, that even though the “Check your Account later” part may have been exciting then, it was probably the least important part of the message now. That money has probably long since been spent, but the words still live on and remind me that he believed in me, that he cared, and that he is proud of me. These words will continue to be an encouragement to me for a long time, and I will treasure that precious note for as long as I can.

As I reflected on this, I also thought about the many letters written to us in the Bible. Given that the end of a letter is usually what we read last and consequently what is freshest in our mind after reading it, whatever it says is pretty significant. One thing that fascinates me is just how many epistles in the Bible have these words (or a similar variation) as a final parting greeting, “May the Grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” (Some say “with your Spirit”). (1 Corinthians 16:23, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Galatians 6:18, Philippians 4:23, Romans 16:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:28, 2 Thessalonians 3:18, Philemon 1:25, Revelation 22:21 etc).

What does this mean for us though? Is it just something we say at the end of a service, a mere platitude, or is it something much more powerful? The Amplified Translation expands the word grace thus, “The grace of our Lord Jesus [His unmerited favour, His spiritual blessing, His profound mercy]”. Someone coined a backronym defining it as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”

I can’t even attempt to unwrap the meaning and significance of grace in one blog post (If you would like to read more about grace, I would recommend Philip Yancey’s book, ‘What’s so amazing about grace?’). In this blog post though, I would just like to touch on what I was reminded about with regards to God’s grace, particularly during this period.

Grace is divine power, it is a gift from God to us (Ephesians 2:8), by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 3:24). It is free but priceless. It is what transforms us and enables us to live effectively for God. Sam Storms notes that grace is “divine energy released into the lives of God’s people to work and to change and transform them. Thus this spoken blessing is no mere literary formality, but a literal unleashing or impartation of power that changes and transforms.”

Grace is a reminder of God’s heart for us, of Christ’s passion for us, of the precious gift of God’s Holy Spirit and presence. It has the power to untangle us from whatever is holding us back, freeing us to boldly go forth and do what God has called us to do. God’s grace is as abundant as it is amazing. It is transformative, empowering, encouraging, comforting, humbling. And God has made this grace available to you, to me to all His children. How precious and priceless is that!

And so, when we feel like we can’t go on anymore, or we can’t do what He is asking us to, or make the sacrifices He is asking us to make, because it is just too hard, He reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). He has not called us to use our own ability and strength to love, to forgive, to disciple, to teach, to serve, to live for Him. Far from it. We don’t even have that capacity. I know I certainly don’t. This period especially has shown me that. God knows that too, which is why He has given us this divine power.

I’ve used this analogy before, but trying to live the Christian life in our own strength is like trying to power a rocket with an AA battery. It just won’t do. Unfortunately, that is what we try to do sometimes, and then we give up and say the rocket isn’t working. How can it work though, if it is powered wrongly?

Sadly we often forget this. Little wonder almost every letter had this reminder right at the end, to keep this in our consciousness, day in, day out. Thankfully, God in His infinite grace has opened my eyes to see that I have a lot to be excited about, even in the midst of a challenging month, when I focus on Him, the grace He has made available to us, and what He is doing, rather than on all the things I think I need to do, and try to do in my own strength.

I am therefore learning to continuously recognise my need for God’s grace to survive and thrive every day, to acknowledge it, and to remember that God is willing to give me more and more grace, as long as I remain humble enough to recognise my need and total dependence on it (James 4:6). I no longer have to feel weary and worn out, I have unending reserves of God’s grace available to nourish and strengthen me!

God does not just give us grace though, He expects us to dispense it to others, to be conduits of His grace in an increasingly graceless world. This concept of grace is something that is unique to us as Christians. This also means that we have a considerable responsibility, one which we cannot shirk if we truly want to live for God. This reminder of God’s generosity to us when we honestly deserved nothing, should hopefully spur us on to see others as God sees us, or as Philip Yancey puts it, to see people with “grace-healed eyes”. I am learning that the person that is annoying me is as much in need of grace as I am. As such, that should guide my response to whatever they do. That is certainly an ongoing lesson for me, but I am grateful for little steps of progress.

In  conclusion, as we read and reflect on this, I pray that we will be reminded of God’s amazing grace, given to us freely and generously, that equips and empowers us to be all He has called us to be, to act as He has called us to act, to think as He has called us to think, to speak as He has called us to speak. May we also remember to generously extend this same grace to others. And on this very special day, my parting words and my prayer for you is that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Sweet Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you, Amen and Amen!

Image source here.