In Him we have our redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace . . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus . . . To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable (unfathomable) riches of Christ. (Eph 1:7; Eph 2:7; Eph 3:8)

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What are the dimensions of the grace of God? How extensive are the resources of His grace? So often we drastically underestimate the measure of God’s supply of grace for our lives.

God is rich in grace. When He forgave our sins, He did so “according to the riches of His grace.” Think of the bountiful measure of grace that was bestowed to remove our guilt and shame. God generously poured out His grace in order to wash away our iniquities. Yet, in doing this He did not deplete the treasures of His grace.

In Ephesians 2:7, God speaks of the “exceeding riches of His grace.” The Lord’s grace is far beyond any richness that we have ever yet comprehended or experienced. God’s storehouse of grace is so abundantly full that He will be pouring it out upon us for the “ages to come.” Yes, it will take eternity for the Lord to fully demonstrate His grace toward us. This everlasting demonstration of His grace will involve showing His kindness toward all of us who are in Christ Jesus. Think of it—the dimensions of God’s grace are sufficient for Him to make us the objects of His kindness for ever and ever!

One could liken the riches of God’s grace to an infinitely vast ocean. Think of the immensity of the oceans of the world. Although they are magnificent in scope, every ocean can be searched out or fathomed. Every ocean has a bottom that can be reached. Though vast, they are finite.

Paul testified that the Lord gave him grace to go forth and proclaim the “unsearchable (unfathomable) riches of Christ.” There is more grace available in the heart of God for us than there is water in all of the oceans of the world! Truly, no matter how much grace we have already discovered in Christ, we have only begun to search out the riches of His grace toward us.

Devotional material from “Day By Day Grace” (Bob Hoekstra).

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. (Luke 24:13-15)

And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27)

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When our Lord did this … whenever He still does it through His Word and by His Spirit … three things happen:

• First, He provides an exposition of the scriptures.
• Second, He brings illumination to the mind.
• Third, He creates a passion for Himself in the heart. [1]

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They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

Ask yourself: “Does God’s Word cause my heart burn within me”? “Does my heart become passionate for Jesus”?

[1]Excerpt from “Name Above all Names” ©️ 2013 by Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

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LEAVE BEHIND your past sins. They have been many and great, more than you can count. But if you have confessed and forsaken them, they have been put away, “as far as the east is from the west.'” Nothing could be more explicit than 1Jn 1:9. It is useless to brood over the past. God has buried it in the grave of Christ. Go and sin no more!

LEAVE BEHIND your bad habits that encumber you. You know what they are, and how they cling—ill-temper, jealousy, pride, evil-speaking, and many another! You have fallen again and again, overtaken by them, tripped up, your robes stained and torn. There should be some finality in your life, a mark on the grass from which you start to run the race. The command to put off the old man is in the definite tense (Col 3:8-9). It be-speaks one sudden strong act of the will, God-nerved and God-empowered. This, then, is the hour when you must strike for liberty “Ye have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

LEAVE BEHIND your accomplished ideals. They were once far in front and above you. As you climbed they seemed almost inaccessible, and mocking voices rang out their defiance of your attempt. But by the grace of God things that once you dreamt of are now realized, and you are sitting on the peak that once seemed to laugh you to scorn. But you must leave it behind! Look up! look forward! Are there not fresh ideals calling to you?

LEAVE BEHIND your attainments and strike your tents. One battle is fought, but a yet stronger foe bars the way immediately in front. It is suicidal to rest on your oars; to do so will expose you to the inevitable backward drift.

The best way to leave behind is to press forward. The Spirit of God bids us “run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus.” He is our Forerunner, always before us, always leading us on. Let the soul follow hard after Him, and it will become almost oblivious to what it leaves behind.

The boy who is running for the goal, in his eagerness to win the prize, strips himself of one and another article of clothing. He will not count their worth, so long as he may win the prize. So run that ye may attain!

Apprehend that for which you were apprehended! Lay hold on the outstretched crown of life!

Excerpt from “Our Daily Walk” by F. B. Meyer.

I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more . . . For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Jer 31:34 and Eph 2:8-9)

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We have the opportunity to compare justifying grace and sanctifying grace, initial grace and ongoing grace. This is always an edifying and valuable exercise, since we tend to forget that we are sanctified through the same means that we are justified.

The initial grace that impacted our lives forever was the justifying, forgiving grace of God. The prophets of old proclaimed this hope. The apostles of the church age applied it to us today. “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jer 31:34; also in Heb 8:12). When we repented of our sins and called upon the name of the Lord, we were forgiven and justified, declared not guilty and righteous in His sight.

This saving work of God on our behalf was all accomplished by the grace of God. “For by grace you have been saved.” The saving grace of God is applied to lives as they trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “By grace you have been saved through faith.”

None of this process originates in man. All of it comes from God. “And that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” No aspect of salvation derives from the efforts of man, so no one will ever be able to brag about their contribution in being saved. “Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” All glory, now and forever, will go to the Lord Himself. “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (1Co 1:31).

Yes, even faith does not source in man. Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). When we believed upon the Lord Jesus, it was in response to an authoring, revealing work that He was doing on our behalf. Jesus manifested Himself to us through the gospel as One who was able to save us sinners. The Holy Spirit was convicting us of our need. We trusted in His saving work for us. Thereby, He authored faith in us. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12).

The grace of God of which we partook for new birth and justification is the same grace that must continually be at work in us for growth and sanctification.

Devotional from “Day By Day By Grace” by Bob Hoekstra.