What matters most to me...? The answer to that question comes quickly and easily to most of us. Faith, family, friends...
As I think about it, the faces of those I love pop into my mind and drift upward like colorful bubbles on a clear day. A vibrant green reminds me of a husband whose love for me is the ground I stand upon. Bright primary colors represent the blessings as well as the just-plain-fun I find in my children and grandchildren. Vivid hues of pink and purple, violet and rose bounce around in my brain as I relive moments of joy, love, intimacy. Shades of blue remind me of the deep and sometimes troubled waters we've waded into, navigated through, then sailed upon.
Most writers think in color, I've been told. We see the colors before the words come. So imagine my joy when I realized that our heavenly Father thinks in colors too. I am not talking here about the obvious colors, colors of His creation, of flowers and birds and trees, but colors of the more subjective kind--the colors of grace for example.
Grace: for every need--in living color
Consider words written by Peter, the fisherman-turned-disciple who became an apostle. First he wrote that we could expect to face trials of "various" kinds. That word "various" really means "variegated" or multicolored—as unique and vivid as the colors in the rainbow (1 Peter 1:6). Seems such testings are all an important part of our spiritual growth. Later he encouraged all of us to face these trials together by “faithfully sharing grace in all its various (colorful) forms,” (4:10). There is grace "for every need." Those words mean exactly what they say--grace for every sin, every misstep, weakness, fault, genetic flaw, dysfunctional behavior or unrealized dream. And grace comes to us "in living color." What an amazing thought! For every color of trial there is a matching shade of grace. So, whether you are feeling blue, pea green, or peachy keen; even if you are green with envy or turning an ugly shade of yellow, may God’s amazing, colored-coordinated grace, wash over you.
What matters most to me? It really matters to me that people know about God’s grace—“this incredibly, extravagant, generosity of God.” Once we know, when we finally get it, then, and only then, will we be able to live with “no fear” and “no guilt.”
I seek to share God’s multicolored grace through my books and articles, by speaking to women’s groups, and in teaching Bible studies. Follow the links to find out more about God’s grace and a bit more about Gracie.
"There is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." John Calvin
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