Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- December 21, 2011
“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.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace is the guarantor of being in the good graces of Almighty God. It is a gift that only the Lord can bestow, because He is the only one qualified to give something totally unmerited. A gift is not a gift if it can be earned or deserved, so His grace is inexplicable in human terms. The world demands results before being rewarded, but God gives His very best with no expectations of earning His gift of grace. Grace guarantees God’s glory is preeminent.
Thus, through belief in Christ Jesus as the Son of God, we experience the riches of His grace. His grace is glorious, because it gets us to heaven. His grace is matchless, because it covers a multitude of sins. His grace is eternal, because it lifts us from the wretchedness of this world and places us in heavenly places. He gives us grace to get over a grudge, to extend mercy, to get through an illness, to persevere at work, to serve at home and to rest.
“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16-17
The grace of God is a gift that keeps on giving. You receive the grace of God in order to give the grace of God. Grace is not meant to sit sterile in a saved soul; but to actively give life to all it encounters. Unused grace only grows ungrateful and forgets from whence it came: from a loving Savior who expects gracious followers. So by faith, fill your emotional tank with grace and Christ will invigorate you with eternal energy and oomph.
You offer the gift of grace, because you are grateful for being a recipient of grace. Who in your life needs your grace and mercy? Is it a hurting spouse, a distant teenager, an unforgiving family member, a jealous co-worker, an insensitive friend, a negligent neighbor or a proud plaintiff? Every Christian is grace equipped, thus capable of being a gracious ambassador of heaven. Your generous gift of grace gives God glory and honor.
“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.” 2 Corinthians 1:12
How can I, with a grateful heart, extend grace to someone undeserving of grace?
Related Readings: Proverbs 22:11; Luke 2:40; Acts 20:32; 2 Corinthians 8:6-9
Post/Tweet this today: Grace is not meant to sit sterile in a saved soul; but to actively give life to all it encounters… #grace
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