Pastor's Corner: Waves of grace

For many years our family has enjoyed vacationing in Cayucos. We're usually there about a week and as our family has grown, so have the activities! A couple of my favorite things to do on the beach is either fly kites (I have four of them) or ride the waves on a boogie board.

Whether I'm on the beach watching the waves or actually in the waves on my board, I never get over the beauty and power of them. As I observed them several years ago, they reminded me of God's grace; beautiful and powerful. Beautiful in its "unmerited favor" of extending God's love for us in Jesus and powerful in its ability to change the lives of people. My mind often goes to passages such as Ephesians 2:8-9, [BEGIN ITAL]"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God...not by works, so that no one can boast."[END ITAL]

Like the beauty and power of the waves, God's grace enables a person who has placed their faith in Jesus to receive the gift of salvation that has already been paid for on the cross. That gift is not earned or even deserved, but by grace is given. When I ride the waves on my boogie board, it's only due to the power of the waves that I'm carried along and that is a beautiful thing!

Let me encourage you to watch for the word "grace" as you read your Bible, and the next time you go to the coast, think about it as you watch or play in the waves!