Grace

Grace, that weird word used to describe God's love for us.
It is supposed to mean: love which is unearned, unwarranted, freely given ...
And totally one sided, at least at first!
Yet, Jesus needed to communicate this concept, somehow, to a world not even looking for Him.

Did you know that Jesus never used the term Grace, at all, that is documented for us?
However, Jesus illustrated grace with His stories and actions during His lifetime.
But to understand this, you have to see that Jesus represents God's love for us!

Genesis chapter 15

Don't Believe Your Own Press (Pravda!)
We know in ourselves, that we are worse than we would like to admit.
(unless, you are pathological and unable to know our own truth. but that is luckily might rare!)
We do have the ability to see how great God is through the Bible,
Not how great we are!
Genesis 12, not how great Abram was, but how great God was to even bless him!
He was just your average everyday pagan, idol worshiping, fallen man.

Start Trusting God
Abram  was asked to "go".
And he did!
Abram wanted a son, in order to have an heir.
God asks him to trust Him.
And he does.
This was the basis by which he was declared righteous before God!

It is no different for anyone ... ever ... we are all asked to trust God.
But we do not do so well.
Our eyes are not on Him.
Our faith is actually in ourselves, to our determent.

In like fashion, Abram lost faith and thus Ishmael was born.

Understand That Grace is Unilateral
In Abram's culture, an agreement (covenant) ceremony was performed.
Butchered animals, to be destroyed by fire, and you walk through the midst of this!
Pictorially, if you break this agreement, either party, then this is what they may do to you. Or visa-versa!

And God walked the trench alone - symbolizing that He would be punished if either party broke the agreement!

Be Tested
Pick your weakest point - expect to be challenged!

Issac, the longed for son, arrives.
Ishmael is sent away (it would seem Abraham really wanted him and the mother dead!) .
And Abraham is told to sacrifice Issac!

Abraham set off to do as told.
Issac had faith in his father and this unknown God.
And did was he was told.  (he could have easily not done so! His father was around 100 by now!)

Issac is spared.
And in time Abraham's promises were fulfilled.

So, what is the point?
We see high and low points in Abra's life.
We see that God only asks you to trust Him.
Not to live by your wits!
You will make bad choices, for which there can be complications even for your descendants 3,000 years later!
And God will be faithful to His word .....

So, drag yourself back to where God wants you and trust Him.
You are already showered with Grace.
So just trust Him .....