April 8 – LD 14, Day 7: A Gracious Gift

I John 4:19 - “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

What is grace? Grace is showing goodness to someone despite that person’s unworthiness. Grace does not ask, “What do you deserve?” Grace asks, “What do you need?”

The Father did not ask what His elect deserved or what they had merited. God asked, what do they need? What is necessary to save them? And, God gave Jesus Christ to you and me through the miracle of the virgin birth.

Jesus Christ did not come and ask what we deserved. He only was concerned with the Father’s will and with what the elect needed. He did not ask, “How will they receive Me?” “How will they treat Me?” He knew they would not receive Him. He knew they would rebel against His will. He knew that they would ultimately join those who would cast him out and crucify Him. Jesus knew that you and I would deny Him, mock Him, and be ashamed to be associated with Him.

But, despite that knowledge, He came into human flesh and humbled Himself to be our Mediator. Is that not the fullest expression of grace? Jesus came to show a love and favor that was completely undeserved by those whom the Father gave Him.

We are not saved because of anything of ourselves. We are saved despite ourselves. We love Him because He first loved us! Is that not the only response we can have to this gracious gift?