Helping Me Up, Helping you up

A few years ago, a first grader and I fell down a step on a field trip. I was holding his hand and we were going down together. Well he hopped right up and I stayed down. I'll never forget what he said, “Let me help you up. That must have hurt you more because you had farther to fall.”

While I was studying the final words of Ephesians, I was reminded of this helping hand.

May God's grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:24

That word for grace is so very meaningful and carries more significance in Greek than we give it credit for in English.

 The Greek word for grace here is “charis.”  Charis in its expanded meaning is; 

1. A gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ
2. His favor as He leans toward us to help us in our earthly situations 
3. Christ freely extending His help and love toward those whom He favors 
4. Christ giving himself away and reaching for us

As I incorporated this meaning for the word grace, I began to really realize the reach of Jesus’ love to me. And it’s a long way down to reach me because usually I fall farther into sin than I want too. And I imagine Jesus reaching down with love to help me up and out of the mess I create and saying, “Let me help you up. You must be hurting because you fell so far.”

And as the end of the verse infers, this is the reason I can't help but give Jesus my love in return. As He leans toward me I want to lean toward Him. As He reaches down to help me up I want to confidently place myself in His forgiveness. The farther I fall, the farther His grace reaches.

I pray this Ephesians prayer for myself:

My Gracious God, reach down and help me up.

Bring Your blessings down as You lean toward me with aid in all my situations.

Let me not forget Your favor.

Thank you for Your precious gift of forgiveness.

I love You.

And this is my prayer for you:

May God’s grace eternally reach down and help you up.

May His blessings be brought to you as

He leans toward you with aid for all of earth’s situations.

May you realize His favor toward you.

May you accept His precious gift of forgiveness.

May you always love our Savior, the one who helps you up.