See Grace

I Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was in me.”

Greetings friends! May today be that day that all your worries disappear, that your dreams become a reality; that good things will happen! Today, we need to focus on the grace of God and how we can better understand it; then see it! When we speak of grace, our thoughts go to the meaning behind the word. Paul used it as a Greek word “charis”, which in our translation is favor, a gift, or just kindness. For many it can lack visual imagery, but when we receive the action of grace, our demeanor is completely changed. In many opinions, to find true grace one must connect with God, spend time in a quiet place, study His word, learn about prayer by communing with God on a personal level. We find in scriptures that to receive God’s grace means to show compassion, forgiveness, empathy and true love for others. How can we receive this from God if we are not willing to show the same towards others; even those who are in a different class, and especially those who have hurt us? When we study the word, we find that true grace is unmerited, undeserved favor and love; given freely to us by God. As He shows grace to us, we need to become grateful; then respond by showing that same grace to the world. Another point of explaining grace is to think of how we as sinners must realize how by grace we are saved through Jesus Christ dying on a cross; taking OUR place. History tells of the author of the song “Amazing Grace”, found God after pleading for mercy and grace, on a ship in a storm. Though his background was evil, treacherous, and full of sin; he proclaimed that God showed him mercy and grace, thus he repented and did a one eighty, becoming a minister. This proves that no sin is too great, no life is too far gone, that God can and will receive you as one of His own! Those words in that song ring true, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I was blind, but now I see”. When we are blind in sin, rejecting salvation; not willing to allow God to come in; we have not yet found grace or mercy. That moment we open up and ask Him in; life is altered for the better! From then on, we will actually SEE GRACE!

Scriptures:

Read: Is.30:18, Ps.103:8, Ex.33:19, Eph.2:8-9, II Cor.2:9-10, Heb.4:16, John1:14-17, Rom.6:14, Titus2:11-13, II Cor.9:8, II Tim.1:9, Eph.4:7,29, II Pet.1:2-3, James4:6-7, II Cor.8:7, II Pet.3:18, Rom.5:1-2, Num.6:24-26

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come now asking for your continued grace and mercy on our lives. Father, we ask humbly that you continue the teaching, the guiding of every step we take on life’s journey. May we “see” grace by sharing that same action toward those who need it most. Give us strength to show mercy and grace in prayer for those who harmed us or are harming us now. Father, please help us to show grace daily through the sharing of you and your promises. Amen.