John Bradford was a prebendary (church official) in St. Paul's church in London. He was burned at the stake in 1555 and uttered the above words upon seeing a prisoner go to his execution. Bradford was a prisoner in the Tower of London at the time. We in the supposedly modern world have twisted those words into a common utterance, "There but for the grace of God, go I."
I speak these words some times and think of them many times. Lately even more than usual. I would admit that the usual motive for thinking these thoughts is when seeing or hearing of someone in more dire straights than we are at the moment. It is a gentle, or not so gentle, reminder that God at this moment given you a situation better than some other people. And we should appreciate this gift. This goes beyond the death of Jesus, and into the living for Christ realm.
Could there be another side to this phrase? What if at this given moment you, by God's grace, have been given some insight into life, or the grace to forgive another, that others have not? What if it is grace and wisdom not to act upon our personal desires, but the desire to put others ahead of us that leads us to these thoughts?
Or is it hubris to think such thoughts? Should we just look to God and pray for His wisdom?
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