Disproportionate Grace

September 4, 2008

I was reading through John Piper’s devotional book Taste and See this morning and was struck by a prayer he suggested to pray: O Lord, make the fruit of our lives utterly disproportionate to the measure of our faithfulness.

I love that. May my life be a bewildering display of God’s grace in light of my inability to do the right things at the right times. To be honest, I truly feel this way quite often. I look over my life and realize that the sheer goodness of God to me as evidenced in my family, my work, my health and so on could not be dependent on my obedience. I’m just not that good, fastidious or intelligent. Frequently I’m humbled by the fact that God has manifested his power to me and continues to do so in my life and ministry. I deserve none of it and yet, like the grace he poured out upon that rascal Jacob, God still gives.

I believe my life is testimony to Piper’s suggested prayer. Often it leaves me in humble gratitude instead of arrogant presumption. I know God can choose to remove his hand of blessing at any time and still be completely just. But he hasn’t. My heart is that I would live in such a way that would demonstrate fidelity and love for my gracious King, and yet I know that because of Jesus, not me, he will show me his ultimate goodness. For that, I am forever grateful! But I am also thankful for the daily blessings and fruitfulness he has chosen to pour into my life, even in spite of me. His disproportionate grace is amazing!

O Lord, would you continue to make the fruit of my life
utterly disproportionate to the measure of my faithfulness.
Amen.

Dr. Yancey C. Arrington is an eighth generation Texan, Acts 29 Network and Houston Church Planting Network fan, and Teaching Pastor at Clear Creek Community Church in the Bay Area of Houston. He is also author of Preaching That Moves People and TAP: Defeating the Sins That Defeat You, and periodically writes for Acts 29 and The Gospel Coalition.