Unexpected Grace

Unexpected Grace

Tracie Miles

He appeared out of nowhere. The dreaded blue lights flashed on as soon as I passed his unmarked SUV. I instinctively checked the speedometer. Sure enough, I was speeding. My stomach knotted as I prepared to receive the penalty for exceeding the speed limit.

My fingers tapped in irritation on the steering wheel, and my scowl deepened as the police officer walked to my window.

“Ma’am, I stopped you for speeding. Driver’s license and registration, please.”

Then it happened. The unexpected. The unwarranted. The undeserved. The policeman glanced into my car and checked out my passengers—three kids and a husband. Then he startled all of us by blurting out a big ol’ “Hey!” to my husband, calling him by name. Apparently, they grew up together, and they proceeded to spend a few friendly minutes getting reacquainted. The officer handed back my license and registration and gave me a smile.

“Slow it down please, and have a good day.”

Stunned by the unexpected mercy, we breathed a collective sigh of relief as I drove away—slowly. I hadn’t paid attention to the law. My guilt was undeniable and I had no excuse. I deserved to suffer the consequences, but instead I was given grace.

Grace is undeserved favor or pardon. We can’t earn it or buy it. It’s something the giver bestows out of the goodness of his or her heart. The Bible tells countless stories of people who received grace, including prostitutes, unfaithful marriage partners, liars, and more. Their sins deserved punishment, but when they asked God for forgiveness, His grace wiped their guilt away. They were treated as pardoned offenders, just as I was.

The apostle Paul reminds us that, despite our sins, God is good and gives grace in abundance (Romans 5:20). The more we need, the more we get.

Although God hates sin because it separates us from Him and ushers pain into our lives, His grace is available no matter how big our offense. We receive grace, forgiveness, and mercy when we accept the pardon that was purchased through the sacrifice of His Son.

As much as I appreciated the officer’s grace, it paled in comparison to God’s grace. The officer’s grace was one of kindness but not one of redemptive love. It was a grace of compassion but not the lifesaving grace Jesus gives.

The truth is, I deserved a speeding ticket, but grace was given. In the same way, we deserve punishment for sin, but God’s forgiveness and favor are offered anyway … through the gift of His unwarranted and undeserved grace.

Dear Lord, thank You for undeserved grace. Forgive my sins and shower me with Your favor, even though it is undeserved. Thank You for loving me enough to grant me pardon. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

Jesus died for our sins and He keeps no record of wrongs. Even when we deserve punishment for our choices, His grace and love are unconditional.

REFLECT

Consider how God’s grace is undeserved, yet He gives it anyway. Is there someone to whom you need to offer grace?

RESPOND

Spend time thanking God for His gift of unending grace. Write instances of His grace to you on small slips of paper. Put them in a jar and keep adding to them each day. Let this overflowing visual reminder be an encouragement for you to share abundant grace with others.

POWER VERSES

Acts 15:11; Romans 3:23