What is God up to?! Through reading our Advent book, The Uncluttered Heart, by Beth Richardson, we are invited to consider God’s presence in all aspects of our lives. For United Methodist Christians, we believe that God’s grace is before us, with us presently, and will remain forevermore. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, describes the grace of God in one of his earlier sermons, “Free Grace”:
“The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is free in all and free for all. First, it is free in all to whom it is given. It does not depend on any power or merit in [humankind]; no, not in any degree, neither in whole, nor in part. It does not in any wise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver; not on anything [the person] has done, or anything [the person] is. It does not depend on [the person’s] endeavors. It does not depend on [the person’s] good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions; for all these flow from the free grace of God . . . Thus is [God’s] grace free in all, that is, no way depending on any power or merit in [humankind], but on God alone.”
Through all of life’s “endeavors,” God promises to be with us. This Christmas, open your heart and mind to the presence of God. Grace will abound!
“The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is free in all and free for all. First, it is free in all to whom it is given. It does not depend on any power or merit in [humankind]; no, not in any degree, neither in whole, nor in part. It does not in any wise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver; not on anything [the person] has done, or anything [the person] is. It does not depend on [the person’s] endeavors. It does not depend on [the person’s] good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions; for all these flow from the free grace of God . . . Thus is [God’s] grace free in all, that is, no way depending on any power or merit in [humankind], but on God alone.”
Through all of life’s “endeavors,” God promises to be with us. This Christmas, open your heart and mind to the presence of God. Grace will abound!
