It Is All Grace
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 one of most beautiful words in the scriptures. Grace is that free and underserved gift of God’s loving and creative presence in the universe and in our lives. Grace is God’s unfailing commitment to love-to love me and you and everyone we have ever known and because grace is a gift, it can’t be earned or unearned-worthiness isn’t even part of the story. It is to be received with a grateful heart.
Jesus knew we would have a hard time believing in this God of pure grace; that is why he is always trying to help us to learn about and move towards this God - a God of unlimited patience, infinite love, and eternal faithfulness. A God who waits long through the night, with the light lit and the door open, confident his most defiant child will one day realize his love and turn toward home. A God who seeks the lost, heals the brokenhearted, accepts the outcast, is kind to the wicked and ungrateful, is merciful and forgiving, and loves all. A God who loves people more than formulas, mercy more than judgment, and pardon more than punishment. A God who loves the unlovable, touches the untouchable, and goes looking for those thought lost forever until he finds them. This is the God of grace that Jesus gave his life to reveal.
May we forever~
Grow in grace:
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
Hear the call of the God of all grace:
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:10)
Rely on God’s grace:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Be confidant in God’s forgiving grace:
The Ten Commandments were given so that all could see the extent of their failure to obey God’s laws. But the more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God’s abounding grace forgiving us. (Romans 5:20)
For Reflection:
How do you describe God’s grace?
What in your life speaks of the active grace of God?
What does it mean that God’s gift of loving grace is free?
