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Grace Upon Grace: Favor I Don’t Deserve

Have you ever been given a gift or an opportunity that blew your mind? Something seemingly out of the blue that you were not expecting and, quite frankly, didn’t deserve? This happened to me many years ago when I was a very young and relatively inexperienced worship leader in the youth ministry at my church.

One afternoon my pastor called me into his office and asked if I’d lead the entire worship ministry at our church as the new worship pastor! It was a humbling experience that led me to doing what I do today. And all these years later, I get to live out my passion because of that opportunity. This is a perfect picture of God’s grace in my life.

I once heard a preacher describe grace as unmerited favor—favor you don’t deserve and didn’t earn. When we think about what Jesus did for us, that He gave everything for us, we realize that it was God’s grace in action for us. We don’t deserve it and there’s nothing we can do to earn it. He gives it to us freely!

In 1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT, the apostle Paul says it like this:

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

Paul again perfectly sums this up in Ephesians 2:8 NLT:

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

A gift! God’s grace is a gift.

When we embrace the grace that comes only from Jesus, it changes the game! In that surrender we stop trying to earn God’s love and instead respond to His grace with a life of worship. It’s then that we see His grace cover our entire lives.

I love the lyrics in the bridge of our song Grace Upon Grace. It says:

Grace in the driest desert

Grace when I’m feeling worn

Grace when I don’t believe it

Grace found at every turn

Grace in the deepest valley

Grace when the night is long

Grace found in every season

Grace has the final word

Grace breaks the power of darkness

Grace mends the wounded soul

Grace moving every mountain

Grace fills the deepest void

Grace overtakes my battles

Grace resurrects these bones

Grace lifts me from the ashes

Grace is my victory song

Every single one of us can connect to at least one or two of those lines. No matter what we’re facing, what we’re walking in, what is difficult or hard around us, God’s grace covers it! It’s simply up to us to surrender to Him and receive His grace!

Challenge

Today, grab a journal, listen to our song Grace Upon Grace, and reflect on the words. Think about the times God’s grace has shown up in your life. Write them down and thank God for the unmerited favor He has shown you.

—Life.Church Worship Pastor Adam Washburn

Worship with the song Grace Upon Grace.