Dave and I sat out by the fire last night talking of the friends and acquaintances we have made over the last 50 years. Some of these people are on my Christmas card list and we still keep in touch. It’s amazing how our lives have been blessed by so many.
It wasn’t long until we found ourselves talking of one friend who has been going through a very rough time. He has run headlong into some tough circumstances, some of his own making, and he’s angry, and unyielding. I’m not sure if he’s angry with God or just mad at the world, maybe a little of both. We are praying for him to have a true encounter with the grace of God.
You see, grace is really God’s love in action.
Grace is God’s kindness and blessings showered on our lives when we deserve judgement and condemnation. As a young girl I was taught this acrostic – Grace is God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense.
“Christ Jesus our Lord treated me with undeserved grace and has greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like his own.” I Timothy 1:14 CEV
When we don’t realize that we are recipients of God’s grace we demand perfection from ourselves to earn God’s love and in turn, we struggle with being gracious to others. Both scenarios leave us angry and unkind.
“I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ERV
Grace is not a one-time thing; it’s a virtue that grows in our lives as we learn more about Christ and His character.
“Let the gift of undeserved grace and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.” II Peter 3:18 CEV
Grace was love in action when Jesus said to the criminal on the cross “Today you’ll be with me in Paradise”. Grace was love in action when Jesus lifted Peter from the sea when he began to sink. Grace was love in action when Christ cried out from the cross “Father, forgive them”.
“Honor and thanks be to the Lord, Who carries our heavy loads day by day. He is the God Who saves us. 20 Our God is a God Who sets us free. The way out of death belongs to God the Lord.” Psalm 68:19 NLV
“My soul, praise the Lord and never forget how kind he is! 3 He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses. 4 He saves us from the grave, and he gives us love and compassion. 5 He gives us plenty of good things.” Psalm 103:2-5 ERV
Why am I writing this to all of you this morning? The friend I’m talking about will probably never read this blog, but you may have someone in your life that is a lot like him. Someone who needs you to be gracious; someone who needs you to be loving and forgiving.
Someone you know, perhaps it’s you, needs to receive grace which is love in action!