Daily Devotions
Grace Is Given, Not Earned
Reading for January 10th: Genesis 32-35
Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?" Jacob answered, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."
Genesis 33:8
Grace is a difficult thing to receive, mostly because it is a thing we are not prepared to give.
Deep down, we all know what Jesus said is true: "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:2) That means if we want to be freely forgiven without having to pay, then we are going to have to freely forgive without exacting payment.
But to our way of thinking that just doesn't seem right. Justice demands consequences. They should pay for what they've done. They can't be let off the hook. To obtain forgiveness (favor, grace) there must be payment. Reconciliation is not possible without restitution.
But that is not grace. Reconciliation is indeed costly, only the cost is absorbed by the one doing the forgiving, not paid by the one receiving it. Grace is a gift. By definition, it cannot be earned. If reconciliation is earned, it is no longer a gift but payment.
The surprising thing in Genesis 33 is who understood this. After everything Jacob did, Esau still tried to refuse payment: "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." (v 9) Is it possible that Esau can teach us something?
Father of mercy, help us to truly forgive and to release our debtors from what they owe us.
