Steps of Grace
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20 ESV)
Recently, our pastor did an excellent job discussing communion, and I would like to share some of his wisdom. He used the word “grace” as an acrostic. After each letter, we closed our eyes and sat quietly for a while as various thoughts related to that letter came to mind. Since this is the month of Easter, I encourage you to consider His grace as we celebrate His resurrection. You may find the Lord revealing surprising insights as He speaks to you.
G –– Grateful. We prepare our hearts with gratitude. Communion and each day of our lives should begin with a grateful heart. When I closed my eyes, I reflected on the many things I am thankful for in my life. For example, I am a daughter of the Most High King, I have a wonderful husband who prayed for my salvation, I am blessed with a family of believers, and I enjoy good health, great friends, and countless other blessings. I remained in this grateful, thanksgiving phase when the next letter was revealed. (See 1 Corinthians 10:6.)
R –– Remember. We prepared our hearts to remember; to call to mind the cross and what Jesus did for us. I pictured more than the cross. I recalled when he was arrested, struck in the face, denied by a friend, and chained in a jail all night. The following day, the soldiers mocked and beat him until his skin was in shreds, then placed a crown of thorns on his head. (See Luke 22:47-23:43). I have a thorn from a bush in Israel that resembles the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head. When I accidentally touched the tip of the thorn, it immediately drew blood. I also pictured the nails pounding into His hands and feet and the cross jerking as it was inserted into the ground. As time passed, his lungs filled with liquid that began to smother Him. Then the soldiers thrust a spear into his side. As I remembered the physical agony Jesus went through for you and me, I could not stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. He knew He would have to endure this cruelty, and yet He was faithful to die on our behalf because of His great love us. As Psalm 98:3 says, “He never forgets to show His love and faithfulness.”
A –– Assess. The pastor urged us to examine our hearts and let the Holy Spirit uncover areas that need change. For instance, we can reflect on someone we must forgive, or allow ourselves to feel feelings of rejection, shame, or jealousy. Consider any beliefs the enemy has planted in your heart that are not from the Lord. While sitting in my chair, the Holy Spirit revealed aspects of my life that required attention. I was surprised by what He uncovered in me. (See Psalm 139:23-24).
C –– Confess. The things hidden in my heart needed to be confessed, and I had to ask Him for forgiveness. I knew that He would not forgive me if I did not forgive. (See 1 John 1:9; James 5:16).
E –– Embrace. When we recognize our sins and sincerely ask the Lord for forgiveness, He will forgive us. He will cast our wrongs into the sea of forgetfulness. We can walk away transformed, filled with freedom and victory in Christ. (See Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 10:19-22; Micah 7:19).
Our loving Jesus died on the cross to heal all our diseases and take away our sins. How precious and great is His love for us! This kind of love only comes from the Father and could only be accomplished by Him, who saved us from our sins and raised Jesus from the dead to show us the possibility of new life through Christ. It was a glorious morning when Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. I believe we do not need to take communion to practice the acrostic of grace; rather, we should reflect on it during our quiet time. We all have daily blessings to be thankful for. We should remember His sacrifice for us, as He loved us beyond human capacity. There are things we carry in our hearts that creep in and need to be acknowledged and confessed. Finally, we must embrace His forgiveness and know that through Him, we can be transformed. Grace has few letters, but these letters are powerful.
Let’s pray:
Lord, as I reflect on all that You went through for me, I am filled with wonder at the immense love You have for me. You walked this earth as a man, but You rose as our Savior. I’m in awe of You. The word “grace” has taken on a new meaning for me. Thank You for being my Savior. I love You. Amen.
