The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 18:27, “When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.” As Luke provides the account of Apollos, his encounter with Priscilla and Aquila, and his trip to Achaia, Luke observes that Apollos “was of great help to those who by grace had believed.” What catches my eye this morning is the observation that it was by grace that the folks in Achaia believed. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins. Why did he do that? Because we are told in John 3:16 that God loves all mankind and has provided a way for us to join him for an eternity. It is something we could not do for ourselves and so he sent his Son. This is what we call his grace, because Jesus paid the penalty himself and offers us salvation freely. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Luke mentions this disposition of God to give (his grace) that resulted in the folks in Achaia embracing him in faith. The message of the gospel is a message of grace from start to finish. Mankind has turned his back on God in sin and rebellion in the face of his own judgment, and yet God, in his grace, has made a way for us. God, in his grace, has provided us his gospel message. God, in his grace, has provided equipped evangelists who take this message out to others providing the opportunity for it to be heard and responded to. God, in his grace, has provided each of us a free will to respond to that message and in his grace has made it possible for us to cross over from death to life. God, in his grace, will provide all those who respond to it a wonderful life in the resurrection. All of the elements of life itself, the ability to hear the gospel message, the capacity to reason, the volition he has provided us, as well as the gospel message itself all speak to God’s wonderful disposition toward us: his matchless and glorious grace! Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you! If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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