May 6, 2026 – Daily Devotional
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” -Hebrews 4:14-16
Grace is the heart of our faith. Grace is the loving gift of God to us, His Children. We believe that God cares for us. God never leaves us or abandons us. The greatest gift we have been given is the very presence of God in our lives. God is with us…this is grace.
It was on May 21, 1738, that Charles Wesley encountered God’s grace, and his life was changed. Charles would write that at this time he felt his “heart set free.” Charles was an educated clergy but struggled with doubt, fear, and unbelief. It was on the day of Pentecost, while celebrating the gift of God’s presence in the Holy Spirit, that Charles felt the Holy Spirit, “Chased away the darkness of my unbelief.” Charles grew to know that it was not his actions that connected him to Christ, but the love of God that connected him to Christ and the family of faith. Grace is God’s gift.
After that day, Charles began to passionately write about the love of God at work in the world. He would help people of faith better understand God’s gracious work in our lives. One of the ways Charles would share God’s love was through writing hymns.
Perhaps one of his most powerful hymns was written shortly after that day of Pentecost. Charles would write the lyrics to the hymn “And Can It Be that I Should Gain.” This song reflects the joy of a doubting soul gaining an understanding of God’s grace.
No condemnation now I dread,
Jesus, and all in him, is mine:
Alive in him, my living head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold, I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
God desires a connection with us. God calls us His children. Through God’s grace, we are invited to approach our faith boldly, learning the depth of love available to us. God does not desire us to walk through life alone. He does not want us to be isolated because of our failures and fear. God is with us, and through grace we have a place in God’s remarkable kingdom.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
