God’s Grace. My Grace.
Maybe, like me, you’ve heard countless sermons and read books about grace. Maybe you know some of the “grace” scriptures by heart and can quote them to others. But my prayer is that we’ll see this word again for the first time. I think grace is most fully understood through our own experiences. Otherwise, it is just a beautiful and powerful word that describes God’s unmerited favor on us. But it doesn’t have much effect unless we acknowledge that it was grace that saved the day for us. And, then, in turn, to pay that grace forward to others.
I’ve heard those grace messages and I’ve even memorized many of those grace scriptures. But what has taught me the most? My own story and the stories of others who have fully experienced grace. Grace – given to us when we deserved a failing grade; grace that opened up career doors for us; the grace of blessing us with our spouse and children. It was grace that we were spared from in that “almost” auto accident or that horrific storm. It was grace that the police officer gave us a warning ticket instead of the $250 ticket we deserved. Or it was grace that we got a $250 ticket that cured the need to speed and risk our life and others’ lives.
Think about God’s GRACE in some of our Bible heroes. Moses, whose hot temper led to murder and rebellion against God, and David, who committed adultery and murder. Then turn to the New Testament where a former traitor, SAINT Peter, leads the Church, and a former “human rights abuser”, SAINT Paul, who became the author of one third of the New Testament. Indeed, God’s grace is amazing. We can never sink so far that God’s grace will not reach us. At the same time, GRACE does not leave us there. It raises us to new heights, causes us to demonstrate that grace to others in words and actions, and that “grace that brought us safe thus far? THAT “grace will lead us home”! THAT GRACE, my friends, really is AMAZING!
It’s my prayer for you and I not to miss grace, but rather will powerfully experience the grace effect in our lives so much so that no matter what has been done to us, that we will choose grace for others. Making daily decisions of pouring out grace to others as grace has been poured out to us. Those of us who know grace, also know we need to be grateful for God’s grace in our lives and in turn, to offer His grace that is in us to others.
May this be our prayer today: Lord, I am amazed by Your grace in my life. Help me see, understand, and be overwhelmed by Your grace again, as I was the first time. Help me to no t simply comprehend Your grace, but live it and give it to others. Help me even today to extend grace to those around me at work, school, home, church, and throughout my community. Lord, Your grace is greater than my hurts, mistakes and circumstances. I am so grateful. May I be as free with grace to others – as you are to me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.