The sun rises on the evil and the good. The rain falls on the wicked and the just. And grace defines the life of every person who has ever walked this earth.

I woke up early to write today’s reflection. The house and world were dark and my mind was muddled. So I waited for the light. I waited for the dawn to announce the miracle of a new day. I waited for the sun to rise or the earth to turn or the grace to begin again. However one chooses to define this perpetual cycling of the new dawn, it is simply amazing.

It is a profound mystery that God would allow this new opportunity, this new day, to begin. In spite of our perpetual rebellion, our bitter hearts, and endless wandering, the sun still rises. We kill, destroy, abuse, neglect and tear apart those made in the image of God, yet God allows the new day to begin again, and again and again. Day after day, grace upon grace.

I do not deserve this day. I have not created this existence, nor can I maintain it. Yet God gives me this daily gift. As the sun pierces the horizon and vanquishes the darkness, I hear the voice of the new creation. “New grace. New grace. For the wicked and the good.”

When Jesus began his ministry on earth, he stood up in the synagogue and read these words from the prophet Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Although humankind deserved punishment, Jesus brought us favor.

In the Gospel of John, we read that from the fullness of Jesus “we have all received grace upon grace.”

Grace is a profound mystery. Grace is the fact that God allows us to exist and choose a way other than His way. But grace is more than just the gift of life. Grace is the gift of salvation, righteousness, and eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Grace is we deserved death, but Christ died in our place. Grace is we deserved wrath, but Jesus took that wrath upon himself. Grace is our filthy rags exchanged for Christ’s righteous robe of glory. Even so, grace is more than Jesus taking our place on the cross. Grace is even more than the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.

Grace is today. Grace is the profound mystery that God is still giving us time to choose him. Yesterday could have been our last day before the final judgement seat. Yesterday could have been the moment when every knee would have bowed and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord. But God has chosen to wait, to extend his favor and to continue showering all of creation with his amazing grace.

Today I turn to my savior and yield to his grace. Today I choose to define my existence as established and forever rooted in grace. I will say yes to the morning and yes to God’s grace. I will thank my God for every breath and every day. Most important, I will thank God for the grace gift that is Jesus Christ, my savior, righteousness and eternal freedom.

“Live from Seattle with Doug Bursch” can be heard 4-6 p.m. weekdays on KGNW 820 AM. Doug Bursch also pastors Evergreen Foursquare Church. Evergreen meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at 2407 M St. SE next to Pioneer Elementary School. He can be reached at www.fairlyspiritual.org or doug@fairlyspiritual.org.