For example, when Adam and Eve sinned, God was not obliged to reconcile mankind back to Himself. However, as He dismissed man from the garden of Eden, He also chose to provide a plan of their redemption. Genesis 3:15, known as the first gospel, states, And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Louis Berkhof in the book Systematic Theology states that grace is an active, working principle, manifesting itself in beneficent acts. This means that when the grace of God is upon a person's life, there will be tangible evidences of that grace. This grace is given to man freely and lavishly, as the Lord wills. It is by God's grace that salvation is made available to mankind. Titus 2:11 states that the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people.
Think about Abram, a man who did not know God and whose people worshiped idols, and yet God chose to call him and enter into covenant with him (Genesis 12, 15, 17). Reflect on Moses' life, a man with numerous faults/ weaknesses and yet chosen to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt and to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land. Consider Esther, a Jewish, orphan girl who found grace before King Ahaseurus and was made queen. In spite of her humble background, foreign race and inexperience, God used her to deliver the Jews from destruction (Esther 2:16-17). And time does not allow me to talk about women like Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, who had traumatic pasts, wounded hearts and perhaps labelled as "social misfits" and yet they feature in the genealogy of Christ.
The story of the four Hebrew boys, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego is one that vividly depicts God's grace. For this reason, I shall focus on their lives as detailed in scripture. Remember that although these young men had been taken into captivity in Babylon as teenagers, they were distinguished as evidenced below, by reason of the grace of God upon their lives:
- The four Hebrew boys stood out in physical beauty, exceptional intellectual capacity and excellent interpersonal skills. Daniel 1:4 states, "young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. ...."
- Extraordinary favor was advanced to Daniel by the King's official in charge of the young men who had been gathered for preparation for service at the King's palace. Daniel 1:9 states, "Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel."
- Daniel and his three friends did not want to defile themselves with the king's food which was offered to idols, and so suggested that they be tested by the King's official after ten days. Because God's glory was upon their countenance, at the end of the ten days, the four Hebrew boys looked far better than the other boys. Daniel 1:15 states, "... they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food."
- Irrefutable understanding and knowledge was upon Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. Daniel 1:17-20 states, "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. .... The King talked with them and he found none equal to Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah. .... In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the King questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the whole kingdom."
- A specific gift was given to Daniel such that he could understand all kinds of visions and dreams- Daniel 1:17b.
When Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2, the King fell prostrate before Daniel and testified, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, ..." The King also made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and was also in charge of all the wise men.
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace and emerged therefrom without a single trace of fire or smoke, King Nebuchadnezzar confessed, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! ... I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." In addition, the King promoted the three in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar was struck by God for his sin of pride in fulfillment of a dream that Daniel had earlier on interpreted. When the King was restored, he resounded in praise to God saying, "His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. ...." Unfortunately, King Nebuchadnezzar's son upon succeeding him quickly forgot the wrath of God to the proud and indulged in the same sin. Out of Daniel's interpretation of the writing on the wall by an angel, King Belshazzar was slain that very day. Daniel, an administrator in Babylon, serves in the prophetic grace that enables him to speak God's rhema word in boldness to the highest ruler of the land.
God's grace so distinguished Daniel from the other administrators and satraps that king Darius planned to set him over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3). This elicited jealousy among his colleagues and they planned to have Daniel charged for observing the law of God. Daniel very well understood the source of his exceptional qualities and abilities- God. He remained plugged in and loyal to his Source even in the face of death. His allegiance was in God and not in his career or any other material thing. In a den of lions, death was inevitable yet God's grace prevailed and shut up the mouths of the lions. Daniel 6:23 states, "... when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."
The reason for your exceptional qualities and abilities; and your experiences of unusual doors/ opportunities are for fulfillment of God's purposes. Nothing less; nothing more. Ephesians 3:10 states, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." The grace of God is undeserved. It is therefore great foolishness to consider yourself more highly than others, because of the manifestations of grace in your life. God has chosen you, not because you were the best qualified candidate, but because He has reconciled you by grace to Himself and made you a child. You are His. All that you are and you will ever be is because of Him; thus all that you are and will ever be ought to be surrendered back to Him.
It is greater foolishness to imagine that our effort, human wisdom or natural abilities have brought us this far. I have had the privilege of being asked with admiration, how I got to where I am today. For example, some have asked how I have been able to live a righteous life as a single lady. Others have asked how I am able to balance life, career and ministry. To be honest, I have never gotten a better answer than "grace". All that I am and have achieved is purely a work of grace. 1 Corinthians 4:7 states, "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"
The full workings of God's grace require that we live in oneness with our Father, through a life of obedience to His Word. Matthew 6:33 commands us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be added to us. Please note, that good health, promotion, career success, financial prosperity, spouse and children are "all these other things" as cited in the scripture. The tragedy facing believers in our time is that we have sought first "other things" and yet keep wondering why the Christian life is a struggle.
God's grace is a function of His love. The manifestations of that grace should stir up our hearts to deeply love God and seek Him with all our hearts, minds and strength. God is calling us back to Himself. God is instructing us to stop chasing after the wind (the temporary, material things of this world) and to position ourselves in righteousness, that we may operate in the lavish of His grace for the fulfillment of His purpose. You and I need to make a resolve, like Daniel did (Daniel 1:8), not to defile ourselves with the king's rich food. In this season of Easter, may God help us to consecrate ourselves that we may be set apart for Him.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:2)!
