Your Daily Devotional for January 2, 2007

 

January 2, 2007

 

 

He Provided His Grace

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

 

Hebrews 4:16

 

A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression. He was called by adoring New Yorkers “the Little Flower” because he was short in stature and always wore a carnation in his lapel. It is told that he would ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids. One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. 

Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. The man told the mayor, "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions—ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

The following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

The example of Mayor LaGuardia is a good example of how God’s grace works. When we stand before Heaven’s throne, we are convicted of sin, and God’s justice demands a payment for this sin. Then Jesus, our Heavenly judge, steps up and shows His nail-pierced hands and presents His payment for our sins—His death on Calvary. Thank God that He provided the necessary payment so we may be free from the penalty of sin! His grace has provided a way for us to go to Heaven one day and live with Him eternally!

 

Many times in life trials and problems can overwhelm us, but just as Christ provides a payment for our sins, He also provides grace for us in our times of need. God’s Word says in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” God’s grace will provide us with the strength and perseverance to go on, in spite of our trials.

 

When life’s trials come into your life, there is Someone who cares and wants to help. When friends are too busy to listen and when family is too far away to help, there is Someone who will always be there to help you. Lean on Christ when you are overwhelmed. When trials come, seek His grace to help you in your time of need.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1