“It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” Heb. 13:9
Lord Jesus, this is certainly one of the greatest understatements in the entire Bible. It’s right up there with saying you alone are worthy of our love and worship—perhaps the greatest understatement ever uttered in all of history.
Saying it’s “good” for us to have grace-strengthened hearts is like saying it’s “good” to breath, drink water, consume food, and sleep. In this sense, “good” really means essential. The more our hearts are strengthened by your grace, the more they will beat for your glory and be enthralled with your beauty.
We will repent quicker, walk in more humility, and abide longer and deeper in your love. We will have thicker skin and bigger hearts, which will help us be harder to offend and better at believing the best. We’ll throw more Gospel-parties than pity-parties. We’ll ask—perhaps several times a day, “What will faith expressing itself in love look like in this situation?”—since that’s the only thing that counts (Gal.5:6).
We’ll be more generous with our time, talents, and treasures; and less likely to hoard resentments, grudges, and irritations. Giving people the benefits of grace will override our desire to give them a “piece of our mind.” Heaven will become more attractive, and life in this world more about serving than accumulating. Oh… to be this free.
Jesus, lead us to the gym, training table, sauna, spa, and regimens that will cause our hearts to grow stronger and stronger in your grace. So Very Amen.