La surabondante grâce de Dieu

La surabondante grâce de Dieu… repose sur vous. Grâces à Dieu pour son don inexprimable ! 2 Corinthiens 9. 14, 15

Là où le péché abondait, la grâce a surabondé. Romains 5. 20

“Se peut-il, ô merveille, que seule, quand tout dort, la grâce toujours veille ? " (Ruben Saillens)

“La grâce est joie, surprise, émoi, salut pour moi pécheur ! Enfant perdu, aimé pourtant, aveugle, enfin je vois ! " (Henri Künzler)

“Nos pires journées ne seront jamais suffisamment mauvaises pour que la grâce de Dieu ne puisse nous atteindre, et nos meilleures journées ne seront jamais suffisamment bonnes pour que nous n’ayons plus besoin de la grâce de Dieu.” (Jerry Bridges)

“La grâce de Dieu n’est pas simplement la clémence lorsque nous avons péché. Elle est le don de Dieu qui permet de ne pas pécher.” (John Piper)

“La surabondance de la grâce est comme une eau vive. Nous en sommes les récipients et nous pouvons alors la transmettre sous forme de pardon.” (d’après Olivier Abel)

“La grâce nous enseigne que Dieu nous aime à cause de ce qu’il est, et non pas à cause de ce que nous sommes. Merci Seigneur, car sans ta grâce nous serions tous perdus !” (Xavier Lavie)

----------------------------

Betrayed

Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. Psalm 41:9

Heavenly Father, I'm thankful that Your love is stronger than any betrayal. When I face rejection, help me find strength in the knowledge that You are always with me.

In 2019, art exhibitions worldwide commemorated the five hundredth anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. While many of his drawings and scientific discoveries were showcased, there are only five finished paintings universally credited to da Vinci, including The Last Supper.

This intricate mural depicts the final meal Jesus ate with His disciples, as described in the gospel of John. The painting captures the disciples’ confusion at Jesus’ statement, “One of you is going to betray me” (John 13:21). Perplexed, the disciples discussed who the betrayer might be—while Judas quietly slipped out into the night to alert the authorities of the whereabouts of his teacher and friend.

Betrayed. The pain of Judas’ treachery is evident in Jesus’ words, “He who shared my bread has turned against me” (v. 18). A friend close enough to share a meal used that connection to harm Jesus.

Each of us has likely experienced a friend’s betrayal. How can we respond to such pain? Psalm 41:9, which Jesus quoted to indicate His betrayer was present during the shared meal (John 13:18), offers hope. After David poured out his anguish at a close friend’s duplicity, he took solace in God’s love and presence that would uphold and set him in God’s presence forever (Psalm 41:11–12).

When friends disappoint, we can find comfort knowing God’s sustaining love and His empowering presence will be with us to help us endure even the most devastating pain.

By:  Lisa M. Samra

Reflect & Pray
How have you experienced the betrayal of a friend? How has the reassurance of God’s love and presence sustained you?