ABOUNDING GRACE
Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted into Spurgeon’s orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized his orphanage. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and it became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. “I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead” said Parker.
The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates three times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker’s study. It was Spurgeon. “You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”
II Corinthians 9:8 says “And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” For all the weakness you may be facing, God’s grace can abound towards you to make the impossible become possible. Temptation is common to all, and even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was in all point temped, but when God’s grace abounds temptation losses its power.
God may permit trials and lacks despite that you are at the center of His will, but one thing is sure, He has made all grace abound towards you already. Has He called you to a specific assignment that you know you lack what it takes to succeed? Tap into His abounding grace.
From the Biblical standpoint, grace is the unmerited mercy (favor) that God bestows on the undeserving humanity, and this was done when Jesus Christ died on the cross, thus securing man’s eternal salvation from sin. This overcoming grace therefore can abound towards you as you come to Him as an undeserving sinner who now seeks repentance from sin.
