Grace

Grace to You

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
Pastor John F. Mac Arthur, Jr. as a young preacher

Grace to you and grace to me.
It’s only grace that sets us free
from failed attempts to earn God’s love
and the shame from wrong we’ve done.

And thanks to you, dear Pastor John,
it’s the Son of God we’re counting on
to guarantee our hope in death.
Your teaching made that clear.

You helped us know the Father’s face
is only seen in Christ’s embrace.
And as you now behold that Face,
I’m grateful. “Grace to you!”

I was first introduced to “Pastor John” when he was the guest speaker on his father’s television program “The Voice of Calvary” that my dad and I watched on Sundays when I was a boy.

As a pastor’s kid, I was impressed with this father-son duo. “Johnny” (as his father Jack called him) resembled his dad physically as well as in his mannerisms and preaching style. At the time young “Johnny” MacArthur was in seminary.

Because our family lived in the Pacific Northwest, I made note of the fact that the older MacArthur moved to Eugene, Oregon after pastoring in Southern California for several decades. He was a near neighbor! Well, kind of.

The year Wendy and I became engaged, she was working at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. The pastor of the local Evangelical Free Church was a sixty-nine-year-old Jack MacArthur. Pastor Jack truly was a near neighbor to Wendy.

“Johnny” would later out-distance his father in prominence through his megachurch in the San Fernando Valley (Grace Community Church), the Master’s College and Seminary (that he founded) and his daily radio program “Grace to You!”

Although I took issue with some of Pastor John’s theological perspectives and often found him less-positive in his delivery (compared to his upbeat radio ministry counterpart Pastor Chuck Swindoll), I salute his lasting contribution to the Kingdom of God. Peace to his memory!

In addition to each week’s post on this website, Greg Asimakoupoulos offers daily video devotionals on his YouTube channel. Here is a sample video. If you are interested in receiving these devotionals Monday through Friday, you can subscribe on Greg’s channel.

God’s Grace Reaching

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
To think we can reach Heaven is a stretch

A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.
That, says Browning, is our task.
But when our endless efforts fail
we (empty-handed) pine.

We long for what we can’t attain.
Elusive peace. Release from shame.
But human effort can’t achieve
what God alone can do.

And that is why the Lord came down
(vacating throne and kingly crown)
to humbly woo us to Himself
and gift us with His grace.

Yes, grace is what the Baby brings.
It’s why the angel choir sings.
In Christ our reach is realized.
In Him we find our worth!

In addition to each week’s post on this website, Greg Asimakoupoulos offers daily video devotionals on his YouTube channel. Here is a sample video. If you are interested in receiving these devotionals Monday through Friday, you can subscribe on Greg’s channel.

An Invitation to Dance

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
Ballroom dancing is a picture of God’s grace

He looked at me and said, “Let’s dance.
I’ll lead. Just lean on me!”
But I protested to the Lord,
“I’m clumsy! Can’t you see?

“I’ve two left feet. I don’t know how.
I think I’d trip or fall.
I’d rather sit and sip some punch.
I just don’t dance, that’s all!”

But He refused to turn away.
He winked at me and said,
“This is our song. Don’t sit out.
Come dance with Me instead.”

We waltzed across the ballroom floor.
With grace, He took the lead.
I didn’t know which way to turn,
yet didn’t feel the need.

I leaned my head against His arm
and felt His strong embrace.
I knew He wouldn’t let me go
or fall flat on my face.

Though lost in wonder, love and joy,
I found myself that night.
What I had feared for all those years
became my soul’s delight.

To think I’d almost passed it up.
Thank God, I took a chance
when He invited me to risk
by asking me to dance.