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May 16, 2025 06:00am

Grace at the Aisle

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As the doors opened, I caught the first glimpse of him. Standing tall and proud, a wide smile spread across his face. He was in the suit I had picked out for him. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was the first time I had ever seen him in a suit. The pale yellow tie, a small rose pinned to the lapel, and his hands clasped behind him.

In just a few moments, this man—this incredible man—would become my husband.

How?

How in the world did this happen? How could a woman like me receive such a tremendous gift?

As my brother walked me down the aisle, I just couldn’t get over the fact that I was about to marry the Shaun Merrell.

Kind. Compassionate. Caring. Strong. Funny. Patient—my goodness, how patient he is. Loving. Silly. Fun. I know, I know, you get it. He was dreamy, and I was head over heels.

The question was still in my mind. Me? His bride? Why would he choose me? I’m not worthy of this man. I don’t deserve him.

And yet, there he stood, ready to receive me as his bride.

Grace.

God’s beautiful gift.

It is defined as the undeserved favor of God. Grace is a gift—a loving and beautiful gift. We receive something we didn’t earn. We can’t work for it. It’s simply given to us because He loves us.

1 Corinthians 1:4
“I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul wrote his letter to the church in Corinth. There was much to come in what he wanted to say, but he started with greetings, and then Paul gave thanks to God for these people. He was grateful for the beautiful gift of grace God had given them and they had accepted.

The grace that they couldn’t earn.

None of us can.

Yet, it’s available to all.

Jesus, the Son of God, left His throne in Heaven and came to earth to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. Mankind had chosen sin. This rebellion had broken the relationship between us and God. The only way to restore it was for the blood of the innocent to be poured out—the perfect, sinless sacrifice. God provided that sacrifice first through a lamb without blemish in the Garden of Eden, and then once again through His Son, Jesus.

Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross. The perfect, sinless man chose to take our sins upon Himself. He knew the pain that would come from the crucifixion. He knew the Father wouldn’t be able to look upon Him with the sins of the world covering Jesus. He knew death would come.

Why do they call it Good Friday? Because the sacrifice that Jesus gave, as His blood was poured out for the sins of the world, was enough. He was buried, and just as He said He would, three days later, He rose from the grave! He defeated the power of sin and death over us. He offers us this beautiful gift of salvation—eternal life with Him if we choose to receive it.

But how?

Us? Covered in sin? Doesn’t He know what we’ve done? Doesn’t He know what we’ve said? Wasn’t it our sins that sent Him to the cross in the first place? How could He love us? How could He desire to have eternity with us? How could He desire to call us His Bride?

Grace.

The beautiful, unmerited favor of the Lord.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

That grace is available to you today. If you’ve never accepted His beautiful gift, why not today?

If you want to learn more about this beautiful gift and what it means to be saved, go to follow.lifeword.org. Let me show you.