At times, it can be hard to wrap our minds around the grace of God. How could a perfect God have such compassion on us fallen, broken, disappointing creatures? How could God look upon us and see righteous creatures? Why would our Father sacrifice His own Son so that Jesus' righteousness would be imputed to us?
With David, we echo the question from Psalm 8:
"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?"
This is amazing grace.
This is unfailing love - that Jesus would willingly come to earth, leaving His earthly throne in perfection, and become a human being. Jesus succumbed Himself to feeling weakness, feeling pain, experiencing hunger, thirst, and heartache. Jesus, for the glory of God to be displayed, was obedient to the cross. He was hung on the cross by creatures He created and was, even then, actively sustaining. He died and stayed in the grave for three days.
Jesus became human so He could redeem humanity. Jesus became sin so He could destroy sin. Jesus died so He could defeat death. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven so we would one day be resurrected with Him and spend eternity with God face to face.
The Lamb of God was slain. This Lamb triumphantly rose as our triumphant King conquering the grave. Jesus displayed the greatest love anyone could have. Jesus, who is love incarnate, displayed the greatest love anyone could display - He laid down His life for His friends. Even before we knew Jesus, He died for us. Even before we called Jesus Lord, He paid the price for our sins. Even when we were His enemies, He conquered Satan's eventual grasp on us.
This is a God we can trust. This is a God we can love. This is a God who is faithful even in the face of torture. This is a God who took extreme measures to show His love for His people. There is now no question whether the God of the Universe cares for us. David asked, "What is man that you are mindful of him?" God answers by saying, "Man is under my care only because I have chosen to pour out my grace on them. Be humble and I will give you grace."
Don't let the fact that God loves you grow tired. Don't let the truth of Christ's sacrifice become stale in your heart and mind. God gives us worth. God offers us abundant life - God brings us to life. Thanks be to God for His amazing grace poured out on sinners like us!
Scripture
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Psalm 8
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
James 4:4-6
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
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