How could we. We are needy every day for God’s grace and made unimaginably rich everyday by God’s grace. Yet we do forget grace.
In my reading this week I came across two passages this week in which Scripture makes it clear that while we may have the knowledge we need to be reminded of what we know (Romans 15:14-15 and 2 Peter 3:1-2). We are indeed forgetful people. God is incredibly patient and gracious towards us in reminding us or His grace through His word, His providential hand, and through other people around us.
The following post from the IrishCalvinist was helpful in reminding me of Grace and giving me some practical ways to keep it on the forefront of our minds.
Sometimes I am forgetful. Perhaps you are too. I am one who loves the gospel, loves the Savior and loves the hope that comes by grace to believers. But sometimes I forget how great a Savior I have because I forget how bad I really am.
For instance, I sometimes will forget about depravity and grace. I can articulate total depravity in theological terms, however, oftentimes in my Christian life I begin to think in terms of ‘good’ things in my life as originating in me. As if to say that the works prior to conversion were bad because I was bad and now as a Christian what I do is good because I am good. What I in effect am saying is that I needed grace to save me from my self and my sin but now that I have that taken care of I can live independent of grace and rely on my own good works.
Now I would never articulate this in clear audible terms. However, I do say it clearly in my actions and attitude. When I sit and meditate on what I have done, am doing, or will do with an attitude of self-exaltation I find myself motivated and compelled by self-seeking. And when something does get done I find myself glorying in it.
For some reason (I know the reason) I have short-circuited my understanding of grace. If anything good happens to me or through me it is not because of me but because of the grace of God. A sure litmus test of this is when we are enjoying a season of prosperity or accomplishment. We find our thoughts (often times our fantasies) riveted upon these things. But how much mental and practical dependence upon the God of grace is exercised? How quick do we rush to prayer in dependence? And how fast do we run to thank God for his grace?
Too often I find myself taking grace for granted. I really hate this. I understand from the Scriptures that it is not only grace that justifies, but also sanctifies, and one day will present me glorified. I am wholly dependent upon divine grace for everything. And if there is anything that God is pleased to work within or though me it is stamped with a trademark of grace before it even comes to be.
I hate this spiritual short-circuit. I hate it because it undermines the power and perfection of Jesus’ work upon the cross; it undermines the totality of what he purchased for a sinner like me. How dare I stick out my chest (in thought or in deed) to think I have done anything of merit or value rather than by the kindness of God.
So how does this flesh out in life?
-Wake up each day recognizing that I am wholly dependent upon God’s grace for everything!
-Remind myself throughout the day that if it were not for grace I would turn away from God in a minute
-Remind myself that I am a needy man; every second of my life I am needy for grace
-Remind myself that I will never grow less dependent upon grace to do anything good
-Remind myself to continual search out my day for evidences of grace and then offer praise for it
-Remind myself that grace itself is a gift, something that I am unworthy of
-Remind myself of who I am apart from grace by reading Romans 3.9-18
-Remind others of the greatness of God’s grace in their lives and in the lives of the church
-Remind myself that there is a grand lineage of Christians who recognizes their neediness upon divine grace. I can do this by reading the word grace in the Bible not with unimpressed familiarity (like a family pet) but instead with affection stirring passion that recognizes its beauty (more like a bride).