God is grace-full.

Late again... sorry, folks!

Today's texts: Isaiah 65:1-9; Psalm 22:18-27; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39.

God’s grace is not a New Testament phenomenon. It’s in the Old Testament, too. God’s grace has been at work since the beginning of time. God’s creation of the universe is in some sense an act of grace. God’s calling of Abraham for the sake of the world was an act of grace. God’s continual call of repentance to wayward Israel was an act of grace. God is grace-full; acting with grace and mercy is just in God’s nature.

The grace of God is expressed well in this week’s reading from the prophet Isaiah:

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
...To a nation that did not call on my name,
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people,
... a people who continually provoke me to my very face.”

How remarkable! God reveals himself to us, seeks us out, even if when we’re not seeking him. He isn’t obligated to do this, nor does he need to do this to satisfy an innate need of relationship, other than perhaps in the sense of his love being so full that it overflows into creation.

Even the law itself was an act of grace. Paul says in this week’s reading from Galatians that the law was the guardian of the people of God until Christ came. Jesus’ death and resurrection may have ushered in the age of faith, but God’s grace has since the beginning permeated his work in creation.

This week's readings: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62.