“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8
When the Lord gave to Isaiah these words on the comparison between the thoughts and ways of men, and those of God, the difference between them is striking. There is categorically no affinity between the two. On the one hand, the ways and thoughts of God are revealed as coming from the holy nature of God, without the effect or control of sin involved. For man, in his fallen condition, dominated by the law of sin, he conceives and chooses very naturally his ways, which are in opposition to God. How serious is this matter of man’s ways, as opposed to those of God? In Isaiah 53, we discover just how wretched and wrong are man’s ways. Isaiah writes: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to HIS OWN WAY; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (v.6) The Lord is very clear here in declaring to us that man’s ways, his own way, is sin, iniquity, the very reason for which Christ died on the Cross. It is therefore essential to begin the consideration and study of every subject, seeking to know God’s ways and thoughts.
The second observation that is striking when considering this subject is the magnitude of the difference between God’s ways and those of men. Again, Isaiah gives us the Lord’s own words: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (v.9) Let us consider what He is saying. There is such a difference in magnitude, concerning the power and authority of God’s words and those of men, that even the immeasurable distance between heaven and earth must be used as an illustration. The key word here is “higher.” God’s ways and words are as high and holy as God Himself. Therefore, it is again imperative in the consideration of any subject in the Bible to begin with God, His nature, His power, love, and glory, as revealed in Jesus Christ. Only then shall we have a true perception of the matter from God’s standpoint.
In the matter of the grace of God, we begin with the Lord Jesus. Scripture tells us that, Christ, being “…the only begotten of the Father, (was) full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14) What does it mean to be “full” of grace? The entirety of Christ’s life reveals that his nature is one where He looks at the sinner with a certain attitude. On the one hand, we know that the wrath of God is upon the unbeliever. On the other hand, Christ came to reveal to lost and sinful man, that He desires, and wills, to meet and save him, because of a certain attitude, and disposition, of heart and mind towards the seeking sinner. This grace is revealed, not only by the verbal expression of the definition of grace, “…unmerited favor,” but by the very demonstrated proof of a life lived, and offered in sacrifice, to save the sinner. God’s way of dealing with man to save him is as holy as He is holy. This grace is limitless and abounding, free and available to be received. Christ’s “fulness” is expressed in the fact that His grace can save any man, woman, and child, who is willing to believe Him, trusting Him fully.
How does the grace of God work towards sinful man, in particular towards the believer? In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he writes: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (9:8) Here is God’s way revealed as opposed to that of sinful man. God is willing and able, by virtue of the fullness of grace in Christ, to give to every individual believer that fullness of blessing in Christ, not based on the merits and accomplishments of the sinner, but completely on the worth and merits of Christ. God’s way is to graciously give all in Christ.
Dear Father, Show us Thy way of abounding grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.