A monthly column by farmer, preacher and writer for Jesus, Angus Buchan
If we look at the Word of God, which I am growing to love more and more as I grow older, we will see in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) what the Word of God says. It says “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
I think that is one of the most encouraging verses I ever learned as a new believer: the fact that every good thing about you and me does not comes from us but comes from God.
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The reason I write this article is because I am so excited that my new devotional entitled A Year of Grace has just been released. And having just come from a book-signing event organised by CUM Books in Cape Town, I was so excited to be able to share what grace means to me. Grace means undeserved, loving-kindness or unmerited favour. You see, once we have received it, we cannot keep it to ourselves.
Many years ago, I remember walking into a church in Midrand, Johannesburg. There was a huge neon sign above the pulpit and the wording was as follows: “Missionary work is gratitude for Calvary.” Once you have received this grace, you can no longer keep this Good News to yourselves.
Jesus tells us the parable in Matthew 13:44-46 (NKJV). He says: 44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
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That pearl of great value is when we realise, that once we are born again, we have been saved by grace — the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many of you reading this article will know my story and will know, like all of us, I have been through some severe testings in my life since I have become a follower of Jesus Christ. I have been through bush fires on the farm. I have been through droughts, through floods, through personal tragedy like losing my little nephew through falling off the tractor that I was driving; that little body I had to pick up off the ground, take him to his father and say: “I’m sorry, your son is dead.”
And then a beautiful little Scripture comes to mind — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) which says:“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
That Scripture sustained me and still keeps me until this very day. Remember, the just (righteous) shall live by faith. — (Rom 1:17, NKJV).
As we face all our trials in this country, in the world, at this time; trials of economic chaos, of global warming, of drought and floods, of political unrest, of immorality amongst society, we need to walk by faith like never before and the Lord Jesus Christ has promised us in Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) that He will never leave us and He will never forsake us.
I want to encourage you to go after and seek after that pearl of great value, and then you will have no fear of the future and you will have no condemnation of the past, but you will know that Jesus Christ has done it all.
God bless you
Angus and Jill Buchan
