He Dwells — The B'log in My Eye

~

One of things I like about Chuck E Cheese is that when you (or your child) is finished playing a game, all the machines spit out coupons which can then be exchanged for a prize. In a small way it is symbolic of the redemption process spoken of in the Bible, for like those coupons, we have little or no face value. In fact it could be said that we are worthless in that we cannot redeem ourselves.

Enter the Redeemer

You might say that the prize you get in exchange for your tickets is also without worth, and that’s of course where my Chuck E Cheese analogy disintegrates. For we see that the value of the blessing Christ provides in exchange for what we present, is incalculable. In my opinion it is the only thing of this world that could accurately be described as priceless.

If God were not rich in grace, this would not be possible.

Riches of Grace

Imagine for a moment we’re back at Chuck’s. We’ve counted up our tickets and we announce to the prize-giver-outer guy, “We have three hundred and ninety-two tickets. What do we get?”

To our surprise he says:

Well, it seems you have just enough for the Mercedes convertible!

That’s grace — getting what we don’t deserve and it’s just a fractional glimpse of what our redemption, through Christ’s blood looks like. What we have to offer the Lord is without worth, but what He desires to give us in exchange is beyond explanation.

It’s not really Biblical, but I have this notion that when we show up at Heaven’s gate and the others look upon us, surely every jaw will drop and it will be heard from one end of Heaven to the other, “That is one gracious God we serve!”

Sharing Grace

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.  2 Corinthians 4:15

If you’re a disciple of Jesus it should be evident by now that He wants us to freely share what we have received, and not only because it the most loving and kind thing we can do, but because in the end He will get the glory and draw more souls unto Himself. As Christians, we are tapped into an endless supply of grace. In the same way we cannot give away our salvation by sharing our salvation, in Christ we cannot deplete grace. The reality is the more we give in His name, the more we receive.

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

1. What does this say about God?
2. What does it say about us?
3. Are there changes we can make?