Lavished Grace for the Unworthy Heart
Redemption wasn’t rationed—it was lavished.
Devotional Credit:
Insights from In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit:
Image by Unsplash
Today’s reflection by E. Stanley Jones centers on Ephesians 1:7–8, where Paul proclaims the richness of our redemption: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us.” Jones underscores the utter impossibility of self-redemption. No amount of suffering, good deeds, or mental striving can mend the relational breach caused by sin. The broken bond is not a mechanical error to be fixed by effort but a relational rupture—one that only God Himself can repair. And He has, through the sacrificial love of the cross.
The cross is more than a symbol; it is the evidence of divine cost. Forgiveness is not cheap. It was not waved into being with a casual gesture. It cost the Son of God His life. As Jones eloquently says, “The cross is the price God pays to get to us in spite of our sins.” We do not stand before God having made it up to Him—we stand cleansed only because He made His way to us.
Then comes the wonder. The Apostle Paul uses the word “lavished” to describe this grace. Not dripped or rationed—but lavished. Generously poured out upon us. We who know the depths from which we’ve come can hardly fathom the heights to which we’ve been lifted. Forgiveness still surprises us. It humbles the prideful and silences the self-condemning.
Jones, even after fifty-seven years of walking with the Lord, still whispered to himself, “Too good for a ransomed sinner.” That’s the right kind of wonder—a heart so flooded by the generosity of divine mercy that it never forgets its source. And yet we need not shrink back in shame. We have been made new. We are not crawling into God’s presence, scraping by on borrowed worth—we are redeemed, cleansed, and invited to live in the abundance of His grace.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
Child of God, you are Mine—redeemed not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of My Son. You did not pay for this; you could not. I did. I bore your sins in My own body on the cross so that you might die to sin and live to righteousness. It was love that held Me there—love for you.
There is no other path to redemption. It is not achieved by effort or penance, not earned by sorrow or sacrifice. It is received, freely and fully, in Christ. Through His death, I have forgiven you. Through His life, I have made you new. The ledger is cleared—not because I ignored your trespasses, but because the Lamb bore them all.
Do not belittle what I have done by trying to add to it. Do not trudge forward thinking you must still atone. It is finished. Let your worship rise from that truth. Let your obedience spring not from fear but from love, not from striving but from trust.
This grace—lavished, not measured—is yours. I gave you Christ, and in Him, I gave you Myself. You are no longer a ransomed sinner groveling at the threshold—you are a beloved child, seated in heavenly places, clothed in righteousness. Walk in the joy of one who has already been forgiven. Breathe the air of My favor. You are free.
Scripture References: Ephesians 1:7–8; 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:6–11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:1–4; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:13–14; Hebrews 10:10–14; Titus 3:5–7; John 19:30; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4–6
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine opening your mailbox and discovering an envelope marked “Paid in Full.” Inside is a letter informing you that your largest debt—one you could never repay—has been cleared. No strings, no demands, just a gift backed by someone else's resources. You didn't even ask for it; it arrived unbidden, a declaration of freedom.
Today, pause and consider the areas where guilt tries to collect interest on what’s already been paid. Whether it’s a mistake from last week or a regret from years ago, tell the Lord, “I trust You to live through me with this awareness of full forgiveness, not carrying burdens You already bore.” Let Him live His joy, peace, and gratitude through you when you encounter others who are still burdened by shame, gently affirming that their debt has already been addressed—by Him.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, Your grace still stuns me. You didn’t just forgive me—You lavished forgiveness on me. Not in response to merit, but purely because of who You are. You bore my guilt so I would never carry it again. You closed the gap between us with the cross, and now I live not as one seeking approval, but as one resting in Your acceptance.
I thank You for the finality of Your work. There is no condemnation left to chase me. No sin You have not already carried. I rest in Your riches, not my rags. I walk in the light, not because I am worthy, but because You have made me new. Let me live today with that awareness—redeemed, forgiven, and free. Amen.