Rom. 9:16 ‘So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’

DAILY READING; Luke 5:27-39; Genesis 1:1-2:25; Psalm 1

Indeed behind every glory, there is a story. Franklin Graham is the son of evangelist Billy Graham. Today, he heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, he is also the CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and heads efforts on behalf of the organization in more than 100 countries. He is well known around the world for his strong stance on Christian values.

However, as a teenager, Franklin grew up, rebelling  against the values he upholds today. In his autobiography, ‘Rebel with a Cause’, he wrote of rebelling against his identity as Billy Graham’s son and wanting to be free to do things his own way. Though he  went to church, and memorized Scripture, he  often tried to see how far he could stretch the rules. He got his thrills and identity from challenging the system;  smoking, drinking and defying authority soon became his norm. In his teens, Franklin attended The Stony Brook School, a Christian private school on Long Island, New York. But  due to his rebellious behavior he was soon expelled. He then attended LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, and again was expelled from the school. However, living by his own standards soon proved to be unfulfilling. The more he rebelled, the more empty he felt. Then he began to realize for the first time that sin had control over his life. He was not in charge, but sin was. Despite his father Billy Graham’s dedication to a life of ministry, he knew that wouldn’t get him into heaven. And so he had an overpowering conviction that he needed to get his life right with God. And at age 22, he gave his life to Christ bringing to an end his years of rebellion. In his biography he expresses how the grace of God delivered him when all else failed. Franklin’s story shows that it is grace that makes the difference in anyone’s life. Though he was born into a very strong Christian family, yet he could not save himself until God’s grace intervened.

No one makes it in life except by the grace of God. Grace is the tangible and undeniable hand of God upon a man that makes all the difference in his life. Our success, does not lie in our strength, hard work or mental smartness rather it lies in the grace of God.

Rom. 9:16 says ‘So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’

There is no substitute for grace on our journey to greatness. Your skill is not enough, your connection is not enough. No matter your expertise, qualification or political affiliation, if you don’t bank on the grace of God, the journey may end in disgrace. But when grace is at work in your life, it cannot be hidden, it is obvious to all men. Titus 2:11 says ‘For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men’.

It is grace that makes every journey of life great. When grace is absent, struggle continues. Without grace, mountains will not be moved. In Zech. 4: 6-7 before the mountain moved, Zerubbabel cried for grace.

Zech. 4: 6-7 says ‘Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.’

The mountain moved, not by Zerubbabel’s strength but by the grace of God.

No matter how high any mountain, at the cry of grace, it will be made plain. No matter how great the journey before you, the grace of God will always be sufficient to see you through. Indeed none of us can succeed by our own strength but when we cry for grace, every headstone resisting us is brought down. Therefore at every juncture in life, we must learn to cry out to God for His grace.

We need the grace of God to live a victorious life, we need His grace to live holy, we need His grace at every minute of our lives. And to see grace, we must cling to the prayer altar. It is where the fountain of grace flows from. So, the more effectual your prayer life is, the greater the flow of grace in your life.

Indeed we must continually appreciate God for His grace upon our lives. If it had not been for The Lord on our side, where would we be today? But through His grace, we have been preserved, indeed through His grace our journey is made great.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your grace that makes all the difference in my life. I know that even right now Your grace is at work, taking me from where I used to be to where I ought to be in life in Jesus name!

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When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.