Daily Encouragement Net - Encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13)
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Home  About Us  Archives  Free email subscription  Listen to this message Listen to this message  Donate to this ministry

Friday, December 16, 2005

"Grace upon Grace"

"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace" (John 1:16).

Mighty ocean photo
"Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea.
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me!"

Yesterday I walked down to the ocean which is about a mile from my brother's apartment. Living inland for the past five years makes me all the more eager for these rare opportunities. I walked along the beach and once again just marveled at the immensity of the ocean. No picture can really describe the mighty sea and of course all your other senses are engaged as well.

I've long associated the daily verse with the ocean due to a sermon I heard as a young Christian.  The minister used the persistent, rolling waves of the ocean as an illustration of the phrase "grace upon grace."

John wrote his gospel late in the first century.  Most believe his writings were the last in the Biblical canon.  Some sixty years after his encounter with Christ and His earthly ministry he sits down as an old man to write his record. 

Other accounts had already been written (three of them are the other gospels) but surely John's perspective in writing was long awaited by the early church.  His purpose in writing it is clearly stated in Chapter 20:30 & 31.  "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."  Thus his intent was in part evangelistic; hopeful that unbelievers would receive his account and respond in belief.

The daily text begins with the phrase, "For of His fullness we have all received." Indeed even the vilest offender is a recipient of God's abundant fullness.

The last phrase is "grace upon grace." The NIV translates this as, "one blessing after another."  But most literally it is "grace upon grace."  The Amplified waxes verbose, "one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift heaped upon gift."  What a marvelous blessing grace is; this unmerited favor and undeserved gift.  In understanding grace many have found helpful the descriptive acrostic "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" or "Gifts Received At Christ's Expense." 

Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  By believing you may have life in His Name.  That's the greatest gift of grace!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's Prayer: God, You've given the greatest treasure that is available to all people.  We don't have to fit into a particular segment of our population nor are we required to live during a certain time period to receive this unsurpassed gift.  The gift of Your grace is available to every generation and exceeds any temporary material blessing that we'll receive this Christmas. Your grace not only brings reconciliation through Your Son, but it continues to pour into us grace upon grace, much like the waves of the ocean.   Thank you that You gave in abundance so that we could be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God through the incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ.   How unlimited and ceaseless is your grace upon grace!

Personal note: This morning I return to Pennsylvania and it will be great to be home and see my family. I got my brother's computer all set up, he is connected to the internet and I actually gave him some basis training. Now he just has to plod along and learn!


 

Sign up for the free daily email encouragement at www.dailyencouragement.net

Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.


Please pass this webpage on:   


Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

© Copyright 2005 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552

"Living today anchored in God's solid foundation"