SEPTEMBER 1

Grace to You

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:1-8

Colossians 1:1-2, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers[a] in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

The story is told of a poor European family which saved for years to buy tickets to sail for America. Once at sea, they carefully rationed the cheese and bread they had brought for the journey. After three days, the boy complained to his father, “I hate cheese sandwiches. If I don’t eat anything else before we get to America, I’m going to die.” Giving the boy his last nickel, the father told him to go to the ship’s galley and buy an ice-cream cone. When the boy returned a long time later with a wide smile, his worried dad asked, “Where were you?” “In the galley, eating three ice-cream cones and a steak dinner!” “All that for a nickel?” “Oh, no, the food is free,” the boy replied. “It comes with the ticket.” 

The young church at Colossae was infiltrated by heretical teaching which diminished the truth of the sufficiency of Christ.  The so-called Colossian heresy included elements of worldly philosophy, legalism, mysticism, and asceticism.  In every sense it amounted to a depreciation of Christ in both His nature and work.  Paul’s main purpose was to refute the heresy, so the book of Colossians speaks both to the preeminence of Christ and His sufficiency.  God has graciously provisioned unto us, in Christ, everything we need for life and godliness.  We are complete in Him.  

As there is no inadequacy in any respect in anything that God has ever done, or will do, so we as believers have been fully provided for by God in Christ.  The greeting of the epistle is rooted in this reality.  How do you greet others?  What do you say?  Paul was in the habit of drawing attention to God’s grace and peace provisioned to us in Christ – ”Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

We understand the role of grace in our salvation, for salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Unmerited favor is bestowed by God, who is rich in grace, at the moment of saving faith.  Yet that experience is but a mere “introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Romans 5:2).  As we proceed on our Christian journey, we come to realize better the full majesty and necessity of the grace which God “has lavished upon us” (Ephesians 1:8).  It is as Steve Green once wrote, “Surely we’ll find what grace is for as we sail to heaven’s shore!”

God’s grace is as an inexhaustible supply, a literal boundless ocean of grace!  So was Paul’s thinking as he wrote thus to those dear readers!  What would prevent any of us from better appreciating God’s provision to us in Christ?  To be filled up with something, we must first be emptied.  God gives grace to the humble.  He sits on a throne of grace and gladly draws from His storehouse to meet the needs of those who humbly beseech His blessings in prayer (Hebrews 4:16)!

Charles Spurgeon has commented on this, “Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you . In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.”

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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