Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: GRACE (08/24/23)
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TITLE: He Giveth Grace | Previous Challenge Entry
By Vashti (Rose) Hing
08/31/23 -
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Grace becomes controversial when we extend it to those we favor or those of our kind, be it race, culture, or those we think may need it. But God's grace has been given to all men through the death of Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us in John 3:16 KJV, "For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
I am thinking of the woman in the Bible, Luke 13:11-17 KJV. She had suffered from an infirmity for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. But when Jesus saw her, love projected, and sovereign grace took over. He called her forward and said, "Woman, thou art loose from thine infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately, she straightened up and praised God.
It was on a Sabbath day, and the ruler of the synagogue was upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. So, he spoke with anger, "There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."
The ruler of the synagogue didn't recognize who Jesus was, "Lord of the Sabbath." Those who recognized Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath glorified God because they saw the grace of God on display. The ruler made the manifestation of grace controversial, so he lost his blessing.
There was a time in my life if it were not for the grace of God, I would have messed up. But grace stopped me.
I was about seventeen years old and a Christian. At the beginning of the year, I said to the Lord, "Lord, I know that you are real, but I am tired of "this God thing." I want to go into the world and enjoy myself, and I will come back when I get married."
Sometime that year, a young woman about my age came to live in the neighborhood. She caught my attention because she attended one of the top secondary schools in our city.
After meeting and speaking with her, I recognized that she was intelligent and wise in the things of the world, and I admired that. We became friends and close friends. We planned that year to party on New Year's Eve, and we planned to get ourselves fashionable outfits to wear. So, we decided to work during the Christmas season to buy our dresses.
The Fogarty store, the second largest store in my country, Guyana, was hiring young people to work in the store for the Christmas season. My friend and I went to the store the day they were hiring. There was a large crowd of young people looking for a job. The manager seemed overwhelmed by such a large group of young people, so he told us to return at 1p.m. So, I decided to go home to get something to eat, and my friend stayed. When I returned at 1p.m., my friend had already started to work. I understood that when the crowd dispersed, the manager came out and hired the young people there.
I was so disappointed and sad as I walked back home. But it was the grace of God that kept me from getting that job. My life would have been different today.
That day, as I opened the front door of my home and entered, it was dark inside; darkness filled the atmosphere, and I was alone at home. Lonely and sad, I knelt at the front window, cried to the Lord, and repented.
Instead of partying on New Year's Eve night, I was in church because the grace of God had found me.
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