Praying from within the grace of God (Anonymous)

Jon Weese, who calls himself the “lead follower” at SouthlandChristian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, explained how he came to realize the concept of grace as a 12 year old. That summer, when shooting off bottle rockets with his brothers, one of his started a small fire that damaged a neighbor’s carport. Jon fled to a nearby stormwater culvert after his big brother informed him he was probably going to jail for arson but no arrests were made. Hours later, Jon’s father informed him only that he would owe the neighbor $40 for the damage done to the structure. No other words were spoken about the incident.

Back then Jon mowed lawns during the summer, and at $6 each, he figured he could pay off his debt quickly. He started out for his first job when he noticed his dad following him, carrying a lawn chair. His dad set the chair up in the driveway of that first house and proceeded to tell Jon to, “Sit down”. Obeying his father, Jon did, until his father began to pull on the lawn mower's starter cord. Jon protested; “No Dad no, I’ve got this, I’ll mow!” Again, but more emphatically this time, his father said; “Sit down!”

Jon had to sit in that lawn chair while his father mowed, trimmed and swept clean that neighbor’s lawn that day. And he had to sit in that chair the next day at a different house, and the next day until his father had mowed 7 lawns in their neighborhood. Finally, the father gave his son the $42 he earned mowing those lawns with this instruction; “Jon,” he said, “pay our neighbor the $40 you owe him. With the $2 left over you can buy candy at the gas station if you want or spend it at the arcade playing video games. Go and live it up!”

Twelve year old Jon was crushed and said he had a really hard time accepting the gracious gift his father had given him that he knew he didn't deserve. He remembers sulking alone in his bedroom when his father came in, gave him a big hug while Jon cried in his arms.

His dad explained the lesson to be learned. “Jon” he said; “You owe God a debt that can never be paid and Jesus took care of it for you, so you can enjoy the grace of your heavenly Father.”

The grown up Jon Weese said that episode was the first time he had a picture of what Jesus came to accomplish during His time on earth.

In Ephesians 2, Paul writes; “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (vv 1-9)

During this season of prayer and fasting I hope Paul’s words encourage you to not grow weary but to gain joy and strength because of His love for us.