May 5th
May 5th
When we consider the true definition of God’s grace it makes it a little easier to treat others with grace and a little harder to ignore that grace and sin anyway.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
His grace is actively working in us! Another part of the definition of the word is “especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life;” What a deep concept. God’s grace is active! Continually, not just once on the cross, not just when we get saved, not just when we realize it!
Strongs concordance summarizes the action of grace by compiling many verses use of the word together this way: grace is "the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues"
Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
His grace turns us to Him, keeps us, strengthens us, and draws us to live out our faith. Paul says it well:
1Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
By His grace we are who we are, in Him.
Our Perfect, Holy, Almighty, All-Powerful, Always Present, All-knowing God is leaning toward us. He was leaning toward us when He created us and He continues to lean toward us, every moment of every day, calling us to Him! The least we can do is lean into Him!
This great God of ours, who created and rules the universe, doesn’t just give us a nod or a glance. He is leaning toward us for our good, giving us everything we need, reaching for us. He wants to bless us and He wants to be near us!
We are utterly dependent upon His GRACE!
2 Corinthians 1:12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
Ephesians 1:7-8a In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Ephesians 2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
And isn’t it profound that the last verse in the Bible proclaims the grace of God over us!
Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Jesus, I am blown away by your grace! Your grace that continues to save me. Your grace that draws me and gives me everything that I need to walk in your plan for me! Thank you for loving me that much! Help me to remember your grace and give me a better understanding of your grace so that I can reflect that to others!