Grace Upon Grace

I know that I'm a Wesleyan through and through. I don't think I ever doubted it, but watching someone come to faith in Jesus over the past few weeks has reminded me of how Wesleyan I am. The only words I could use to describe what I saw happening were Wesley's.

Each time I would write a response to a question, have a conversation, or see a reaction, I would say "God's working on [person]." Prevenient grace - God at work before we're even aware of the presence of God in our lives. I knew it was at work. I'd felt it in my own life, many years before. I'd seen it at work in the lives of others, but saw it in very real and tangible ways in this person's life.

Recently, I saw grace on the move in this person's life. Tears were streaming, hands shaking, questions forming, to say, "I know God loves me!" Justifying grace, as Wesley said, was the moment that you became convinced of your sin and your need for God.

Does that mean the questions stop? No! By no means! None of it stops at all....but we continue to grow in grace, to grow in faith, as we grow closer to God in Jesus Christ. Wesley called this type of grace sanctifying grace. It's a lifelong process. We ought not get too discouraged, because God continues to heap upon us grace upon grace, so that we can grow in our love of God and of our neighbors. I look forward to seeing what is in store for my new relative in Christ!