In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 

Ephesians 1:7-8

When I was young, my family rarely went to a restaurant to eat. But on one special occasion, my parents took us to a restaurant that was filled with various buffets. Salad and fruit buffets were in one area. Vegetable and meat buffets were nearby. And my favorite, of course, were the dessert buffets that I remember as taking up an entire room. Lavish quantities of food were everywhere! I wanted to try it all (well, most of it), but the abundance was too great. I couldn’t even sample it all.

In some infinitesimal way, the abundance of that food from my childhood perspective compares to the lavish grace and love of God that is poured out upon those who believe in Jesus. His grace and love are extravagantly abundant—more than we can comprehend or ever need. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1).  

Perhaps you’ve never experienced lavish love. You’ve only known love that falls short of what you desire or need. God’s love is beyond that of any other. The One who created you, knows how to love you perfectly. The perfect love of Jesus was displayed on the cross. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16).

Perhaps you don’t believe you deserve God’s love. The fact is, none of us do. And so comes the gift of God’s glorious grace! He pours His riches out upon the undeserving. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we experience God’s lavish grace and love. 

Lord, thank you for lavishing your grace and love upon the undeserving. Your gifts are more than we can comprehend or ever need.

Jan Burkhart