A Mild Grace, How Common the Sound

images-2Barna did some research to find out the most popular verses in the Bible.  One of the verses on the list was:  “God helps those who help themselves.”

PROBLEM!!!!!!!

Not only is this NOT a verse in the Bible (it is a quote from Benjamin Franklin), it runs counter to the core truth of the Gospel.

Max Lucado wrote something like this:

“You can’t swim the Pacific. You can’t get to the moon on the tail of a kite. You can’t climb Mt. Everest with a picnic basket and a walking stick.  And unless somebody does something for you, you don’t have a chance of getting to heaven.”

One of our favorite hymns is “Amazing Grace.”  But I am not sure we really want an Amazing Grace.  I think we would rather have “A Mild Grace.”  It might look something like this:

“A mild grace, how common the sound
That helped a prize like me!
I once was somewhat misguided but found my way.
My sight was blurred, but when I squint I can see.”

Charles Wesley understood our need for an Amazing Grace:

“He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace.
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s HELPLESS race.
Tis mercy all, immense and free,
And Oh, my God, it found out me!”

God has helped a helpless race!  His love surpasses our knowledge and His grace is amazing!  Would you receive His grace today?

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About Rich Stevenson

Rich is the Executive Director of The Malachi Network (www.malachinetwork.org), a ministry focused on making the name of the LORD great among the nations. This network serves young leaders in missions and church planting. Prior to his present ministry, Rich pastored in Southern New Jersey, planted a church in Wilmore, KY, established a network of churches, served as an adjunct professor at Asbury College and was a senior leader at The International House of Prayer in Kansas City, MO as well as The International House of Prayer in Atlanta, GA. Rich is the author of two books: Secrets of the Spiritual Life—10 Lessons from the One Thing Passages (Baker Books, 2003) A Voice from Home—The Words You Long to Hear from Your Father (WaterBrook Press, 2005) He graduated from Asbury College in 1984 with a BA degree in Philosophy of Religion and Asbury Theological Seminary in 1987 with a Master of Divinity degree. In 2010, Rich received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Union Biblical Seminary in Yangon, Myanmar. Rich has been married to Tania since 1982 and they have been blessed by amazing children: Zachary and his wife Meghan, Jacob and his wife Lena, Jessica and Corrie Emma.
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