Daily Devotions

Paul writing to the Corinthians asserts, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The word bless here in the Greek is charis. In the New Testament, "charis" primarily refers to the unmerited favour and kindness of God towards humanity. It encompasses the idea of divine assistance given to humans to enable their regeneration and sanctification. "Charis" is often associated with the concept of salvation, as it is by grace that believers are saved through faith. It also denotes the graciousness of God in bestowing gifts and blessings upon His people, as well as the grace that believers are to extend to others.

In the Greco-Roman world, "charis" was commonly understood as a favour or gift given without expectation of return, often to cement social bonds or express goodwill. In the New Testament, this concept is deepened and transformed to express the profound and unconditional love of God towards humanity, which is not based on human merit but on God's own character and purpose.

In Disney’s remake of Beauty and the Beast (directed by Bill Condon, Walt Disney Pictures, 2017), the cursed prince, the Beast, is slowly transformed by the love of Belle, who loves him at his darkest, ugliest, and worst. Her unconditional love changes the Beast into a good, loving, beautiful person—a person grounded in transformational love. Like the love of Belle, God’s unconditional love changes our outlook, affection, relationships, nature, character, and lives.

It was in 1990 that Desmond Tutu wrote, ‘Unconditional love is the foundation for forgiveness and reconciliation, creating opportunities for growth and healing.”

Our hymn of blessing for today comes from v3 of Charles Wesley’s hymn Jesus lover of my soul.

Plenteous grace with thee is found, 

grace to cover all my sin; 

let the healing streams abound; 

make and keep me pure within. 

Thou of life the fountain art; 

freely let me take of thee; 

spring thou up within my heart, 

rise to all eternity. Amen