The Sheer Grace of God

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9

What are you most thankful for? What am I most thankful for? There is also a distinction between what we feel most thankful for and what we certainly should be most thankful for. Chances are, however, that what we should be most thankful for is what we feel most thankful for—once we think about it for very long.

In one sense I am most thankful for my wife and for the children. But at the end of the day what ought we to be most thankful for? One word: salvation. The knowledge that we will go to heaven and not to hell when we die. Sublime knowledge doesn’t get better than that.

The greatest reasons of all to be thankful are that (1) God sent His one and only Son to die for us on the cross, (2) that we heard this wonderful news, and (3) we were enabled to believe this message by the effectual power of the Holy Spirit. Not all have heard the message, but not all who have heard it receive it. Why do some receive it? Is it because they are nicer or better people—or more worthy? No. The only explanation is the sheer grace of God.

The greatest mystery of all is why God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to die on a cross for our sins. I don’t understand it. Do you? All we can do is stand back and worship. And be so very, very thankful.

Excerpted from Just Say Thanks! (Charisma House, 2005).