A Lesson in Grace

You could say our family has been learning about grace a lot this week--the sufficiency of grace, the fulness of grace, and the complete and utter insufficiency of ourselves.  I could list the trials that have crossed our paths this week, but that would take too long, and it's not necessary.  Because God's grace has covered them all, and will continue to provide for whatever comes next week, next month, next year, forever.

I love that the title of the chapter we were studying in my women's group this week was "The Sufficiency of Grace."  The one thing that struck me the most was when he discussed how there is a lesson about grace in the way God distributed the manna to the Israelites in the desert:
Exodus 16:16-21-
   "This is what the Lord has commanded:  'Each one of is to gather as much as he needs.  Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.'
    The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.  And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.  Each one gathered as much as he needed.
   Then Moses said to them, 'No one is to keep any of it until morning.'  However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.  So Moses was angry with them.
    Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away."

The author, Jerry Bridges, states, "God's distribution of the manna illustrates the way He distributes grace.  There is always an ample supply; no one ever need go without.  But there is only as much as we need--and even that is on a day-to-day basis.  God doesn't permit us to "store up" grace.  We must look to Him anew each day for a new supply.  Sometimes we must look for a new supply each hour!"

That statement REALLY hit home with me.  I do not need to feel as though I need to try to work harder to "earn" more grace or that I won't need grace tomorrow since I used so much up today.  I will ALWAYS need grace, and I will NEVER be without it.  I need to seek grace EVERYDAY from God, and know that he will ALWAYS supply for our needs.

So no matter the difficulty--whether it be physical, financial, spiritual-- I have the confidence that my God will supply the grace I need to face each one.  I do not know what next week holds, but I do know that I will be on my knees more admitting the insufficiency of myself to deal with it and the sufficiency of Christ to help me.

I want to end with a hymn that was also quoted in this week's chapter.  The hymn is called "Day by Day" by Lina Sandell Berg:

Day by Day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.