Weve all heard the phrase give him an inch and hell take a mile which is usually used as a derogatory statement pointing out how someone takes advantage of something. But I was thinking about how God is somewhat like this – NOT of course in the sense of taking advantage of us but in the sense that He always does extremely abundantly ABOVE all that we ask or think… (Eph 3:20).
An awesome case in point is the entire chapter of Romans 5. I like to refer to this as the much more chapter, as that phrase is repeated five different times throughout the chapters 21 verses: (capital emphasis mine)
Vs. 8-9 But God commanded His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, MUCH MORE then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Vs. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son MUCH MORE being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Vs. 15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, MUCH MORE the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many
Vs. 17 For if by one mans offense death reigned by one; MUCH MORE they which received abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Vs. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound.
Lets go back to verse 17, but this time in the Amplified Bible, to really drive this point home! But Gods free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass [His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man]. For if many died through one mans falling away (his lapse, his offense), much more profusely did Gods grace and the free gift [that comes] through the undeserved favor of the one Man Jesus Christ abound and overflow to for [the benefit of] many.
Wow! You might want to go back and read that over again, and again and again and again! His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man. Youve got to see that God didnt just even up the score but He gave us a HUGE advantage, He did MUCH MORE!
Its vital for you to know that grace and sin are not equal opposites. Grace FAR outweighs the effects, the consequences of sin in our lives! God didnt just see fit to save us but to save us to the UTTERMOST – entirely, completely, forever. He doesnt just want to change us, its His intent to TRANSFORM us!
May we never allow our small thinking, our ignorant mindsets, to LIMIT the Holy One of Israel in our lives!