Precision Cut Grace

Thirteen years ago I had laser eye surgery. In this procedure, the patient lies on a table, staring at the light. Behind the light is a computer guided laser, reshaping your cornea to correct your vision.

I so vividly remember this simultaneously exciting and terrifying event. The first eye went fine.

“Stare at the light and don’t look away.”

As they began the second eye, I suddenly realized I looked away! “Oh No!”

The laser immediately stopped. The surgeon told me to look back at the light. The computer-guided memory of the laser began again, exactly where it had left off.

The second eye was better “than perfect” when my vision was checked.

The laser was precision set for my eye. It was exact to the uniqueness of my situation.

One of the definitions for the uniqueness of grace in our lives is precision cut grace.

It’s unique and specific. We could say it is laser guided.

It is this grace which enables us to endure.

“…a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

God doesn’t remove Paul’s struggle. He does not answer the “Why?” question for our missionary hero.

What does He promise?

Sufficient, more than enough, precision cut grace for his unique situation.

• Not the perfect answer.
• Not the removal of hardship.
• This is not a “Come to Jesus and all your problems go away message.”

Imagine God adjusting the dials on the grace machine for our unique situation today.

• 3 notches higher on the tiredness scale
• 1 notch lower on the bad hair day, garlic breath meter.
• 1.785757 on the hormonal adjustment due to age
• The encouragement tank is a tad low, so lets increase the thrusters on this a millimeter.

Ok. Lock in the settings. Push the red button!

“There is the perfect, precision cut grace needed for your situation today.”

“Oh? the bill…?  It’s for FREE. Just thank me as you walk in my grace today.”

This is a moment by moment, unique and specific grace for what we face today.

Grace is Now. And Now. And Now…..for the rest of our lives.

Once “Now” is in the past, the new “Now” begin afresh accompanied by the laser guided, precision cut, all empowering grace for “Now.”

Look at the Light, and He will give you the grace you need.

What is the precision cut grace we need today?

Photo credit: 12 month check via photopin (license)