"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
Revelation 22:21
The Bible ends with the last verse speaking a benediction of blessing concerning the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That word grace summarizes all we have from the Lord. Grace may be defined as unmerited favor. We receive what we don't deserve. All we have from God comes as a gift. We have nothing which we have not received from Him. God's greatest gift for us comes through His Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ..." (John 3:16).
A father promised his son a new bicycle, if he made all A's on his next report card from school. His son tried his best. The grades were reported. The son made all A's except for one grade. It was a B. His father said, "Son, you didn't make all A's, but neither did I when I was in school. I've already bought your new bicycle. Consider it a gift from your father. I love you and want you to have it." A happy boy received a bicycle that he didn't earn. It was a gift. Everything we receive from God is a gift. He's our Father in heaven and He loves us.
As a young man, I heard a preacher say from the pulpit, "All I am and ever hope to be is by the grace of God." I will never forget those words. Another preacher by the name of the apostle Paul said, "But by the grace of God, I am what I am ..." (1 Cor. 15:10). We could never earn, merit or deserve the wonderful things God has for us through Christ our Lord. It's all of grace, God's gift to us in Christ.
Father, we receive Your grace through Christ Jesus.
