Grace comes first

We talk about stewardship. We talk often about returning what God has given to us to the work of his Kingdom. We seem to realize that he gives us spiritual gifts and talents, and we feel a responsibility to return them to him. We know that we build barriers between God and ourselves when we value our money or our time more than we value him or his children.

I was thinking today, though, of something else.

JtM and I were emailed today about a class we are teaching which starts tomorrow. He mentioned a line from the song, Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus -- O for grace to trust Him more.JtM went on to say, "Grace comes first, then trust." That's true. It's also true that grace comes first, and then faith. Grace comes first, and then the awareness of our need of God. Grace comes first, and then forgiveness. Grace comes first, and then our ability to love others.

All of these gifts we think that we offer to God -- our trust, our obedience, our faith, our prayers -- are made possible through God. Without grace, we would not know of God. We would not be aware of him, or ever sense his presence. Without grace, we would not believe.

Even our responses to God are a gift from him to us, before we ever think of offering them back.

In The Silver Chair, by CS Lewis, Aslan says, “You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you.”

Amen.

Images: The moon the other night as we were driving home, and a weed at the VA.