Common Grace — A LifeWords Devotion

Matthew 5:45

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. (THE MESSAGE)

God is so much more gracious and merciful than we are. Jesus here reminds us that God pours out blessings on lots of people we might not want to bless. He loves those whom we might despise or reject. Evildoers enjoy the same sunshine that believers enjoy and are refreshed by the same rain.

This is what some call “common grace”. It is grace shown to everyone indiscriminately. It contrasts with what some call “saving grace” which specifically refers to the life and work of Jesus. God might send sunshine and rain to all and sundry, but not all and sundry are thus “saved”. A response to Jesus’ offer of mercy is what is needed. Sunshine and rain do not of themselves bring about right standing with God.

While we ought not to assume the common grace blessings of God bring about friendship with God, neither ought we to write off those outside our community of faith. The God who brings sun and rain to unbelievers can use those same unbelievers in various ways. While we are not good enough in ourselves to merit right relationship with God, that same God still enables any human being to do good.

Someone who rejects God can still rescue a person from a blazing home. A dedicated atheist can yet love their children. A convicted criminal can speak kindly to someone in need. This is the common grace of God who is able to display his goodness and mercy through all sorts of people, not just those who have received his saving grace.