Lavished: When Grace Doesn’t Make Sense, But Still Shows Up

Opening Thought:

This morning, a single word stopped me in my tracks — lavished. It came while I was reading a devotional from Ephesians 1. And man, it hit deep. Lavished means “to bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities.” Not just given. Not just offered. But poured out beyond measure.

Scripture Reading:

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered (lavished) his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”

— Ephesians 1:7–8 (NLT)

Reflection:

God didn’t hold back. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t wait until we deserved it — because the truth is, we never could.

While we were still sinners, He lavished us with grace.

He lavished us with mercy.

He lavished us with love.

Not little sprinkles of kindness here and there. Not grace in measured doses.

But an overwhelming downpour — one we couldn’t earn and still can’t explain.

What kind of love does that?

What kind of mercy sees the mess, the rebellion, the brokenness — and still says,

“I choose you anyway”?

The answer is found in the cross.

The power to overcome the grave wasn’t given to the deserving.

It was given to the desperate.

To the lost.

To us.

Application:

Today, I’m asking God for a truly humble and gentle heart — for everyone I encounter. Because this kind of grace? It should change how we treat people.

None of us earned it.

None of us deserved it.

But God gave it anyway.

Let’s carry that kind of love into our homes, workplaces, grocery store lines, and tough conversations.

Let’s be people who lavish grace, because we’ve been lavished with it first.

Closing Prayer:

God, thank You for pouring out grace I didn’t deserve. Thank You for loving me while I was still far from You. Soften my heart today. Make me humble. Make me gentle. And let Your extravagant love flow through me to everyone I meet. Amen.