Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

God’s common grace!

“Even though every inclination of his/her heart is evil from childhood.” Genesis 8v21

Every single human experiences God’s grace. They may not recognise it, but it is part of their experience. We see that in the above verse in the Bible group reading yesterday.

The whole verse from Genesis says, “And [God] said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. 22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (NLT)

God is “saying to himself” (NLT) or “speaking from his heart” (NIV). This verse is giving us his very deep thinking:

  • He sees the sin of us humans, he knows that evil comes from deep inside us, he knows this is coming even from our early years. There is no point in trying to keep anything hidden from God.
  • Yet this verse begins with “Even though.”   Yes, despite his knowledge of all the evil that is within us, God decides from his heart that he is not going to curse the ground again and nor is he going to destroy all living creatures, but he will secure the rhythms of planet earth until the end. This is God’s grace – he does not treat us as our sins deserve.

This truth of God’s grace applies even to the very worst of people in our society. God’s grace is not a denial of the wrong, but it is an act of love.

Much later, Peter will say, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3v9). Peter is explaining that God has not yet ended the world, because he desires for all to repent and be saved. Yes, your neighbours and work colleagues, your family and your friends are right now under the common grace of God. Thank you Lord!

The moment we think we deserve God’s blessings, even the simple things of life, we have an attitude problem. He gives them to us despite what we deserve.

May you recognise the grace of God in your life today – even in the simple things of life.

With love and blessing,

Roland