Today’s passage says this: “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it”
Today the Church of Christ is plagued by believers who believe in the grace offered by Christ but take that grace for granted. Has Jesus asked us, His followers, to fold our arms and enjoy this grace? Certainly not. The price was at a high cost for us to believe that the grace of God allows us to wait on God while refusing to obey Him. That’s the whole purpose of grace. Let’s look at the definition of this word: “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace” (http://www.merriam-webster.com). Hmmm! when reading at this, we wonder why the Christians see grace ONLY has an unmerited favour of God, and yet and still, many live lives that seem not to enjoy the unmerited favour coming from God.
My brother, my sister, has God failed to do what He promised? Since we know that He is not a man to lie, then we should wonder about what grace actually implies. Looking in the Bible, some people experienced amazing grace, but let’s speak only of Apostle Paul who was an advocate of God’s grace. What was His prime teaching? A life of sanctification, righteousness, obedience to God and trust in the Lord. Why is it then that, today’s Christians view grace as something that we can enjoy just like that?
Today’s passage could be the beginning of our answer. Because it is too easy for us to agree with Christ with no intention of obeying any of His teachings or principles, but yet and still count on His grace. Jesus is telling us to consider ourselves to be blessed because what we now know and see, many would have wanted to see or hear it. What is that? The Messiah! Therefore, the grace we enjoy is knowing that the Messiah lives in us individually through His Spirit, my friends: “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Just remember that as soon as Simeon saw this grace, He asked God to let him die. But what does the Bible say about Simeon?: “this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25). Therefore, it’s by cherishing, adoring and keeping pure that indwelling of the Spirit that we can truly enjoy His overflowing grace. Yes, the grace of God is unmerited and God gives grace to whom He wants, when and how He wants… But do you really think that He can retain the overflowing of His grace to someone who loves Him, His devoted to Him, obeys His principles? The thief on the Cross was given grace when He acknowledged Christ and submitted to Him while the other thief was mocking the Lord. From Genesis to Revelation, we are shown that God does not make favouritism, but He chooses people who are willing to give themselves to Him. Why would He give us grace for us to be lost in the end? The grace given to us is to lead us to eternal life, my friends, therefore, it is to serve Him with all that we are, all that we have… That’s experiencing the grace of God. So, the unmerited favour we receive from God entails our obedience to Jesus! Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.