When We Get What We Do NOT Deserve, That Is Grace

This is the face of a guilty dog. There is hope for her yet since even before I found the chewed up slipper with telltale trail of black shearling leading to the crime, she was cringing. Unlike someone without a conscience, she knew she was a BAD DOG. She did not make excuses. She didn't say, "I am only a year old and my mother died before I was weaned." Nor, "It's YOUR fault because you didn't close your bedroom door (which I can push open anyway if I want) and so you handed me a temptation too great to bear." Nor, "Despite all evidence to the contrary, I did NOT eat your slipper. Anthony did."

Instead she tried to apologize the only way she knew how. Lick my face till I screamed for mercy and said, "I forgive you."

She was so contrite that I only scowled at her through breakfast. When I returned from dropping Anthony at his job, I took her for a long walk in the foggy morning. She certainly didn't deserve it, but all of us can use a lesson in grace now and then.

None of us deserve God's love and favor. All of us have lied, stolen, blasphemed, lusted, hated, and been full of selfish pride that pulls us further and further from God. Yet the Bible says, "While you were yet sinners, Christ died for you."

Now that's forgiveness.

"So what???" some people say, "He also sends hurricanes and death and poverty and horrible circumstances that no one should or could withstand."

Yes. But that we deserve. What we don't deserve is the creator of the universe desiring our friendship, our love, our companionship. We don't deserve the beauty of a magnificent world that He designed for our joy and our pleasure. When we defy, ignore, or reject Him, we are the equivalent of a dog chewing her master's slipper...the master who sacrificed everything for her.

So after the repentant dog was returned home to rest, soothed by her master's forgiveness and lavish love, I walked around the village. I noticed touches of joy and beauty everywhere I looked. The lavish atoning grace of a merciful God.

Romans 11:6 

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

James 4:6 

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Ephesians 2:8 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

1 Corinthians 15:10 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Hebrews 4:16 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 5:8 

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 1:16 

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.