As I venture into this amazing and terrifying call of God on my life, one word keeps coming to my mind: Grace.
I don’t know that I’ve ever fully understood grace, except for the fact I know I need it. As I follow Jesus in the coming and the going, I know I can’t take one step without His grace.
Grace Be with You
Jesus came full of grace.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NIV 84).
We are saved by grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We are justified by grace.
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).
We are gifted by grace.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us” (Romans 12:6).
We are called by grace.
“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me” (Ephesians 3:7-8a).
We are empowered by grace.
“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:14).
So, what is grace?
The Greek word translated grace is charis, which means “the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object; gift; benefit; credit; words of kindness and benefit; favor; bless abundantly” (The NIV Exhaustive Bible Concordance, Kohlenberger).
Grace is God giving us the ability to do what we cannot do on our own. I can’t save myself or justify myself before God. I can’t earn His gifts or calling by anything I can do. And I certainly don’t have the power to carry any of it out.
Grace.
When we are at our lowest, there is grace. When we are at our worst, there is grace. When we don’t have what it takes, there is grace. When we think we can’t go on, there is grace.
What do you need grace for today?
His grace is sufficient.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
His grace will help us.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
So what can we do to walk in His grace?
Humble ourselves by admitting that we can do nothing without Him.
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, ‘God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:6-8a).
Grow in grace and knowledge.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
We all need God’s grace, no matter what we are facing. Let us humble ourselves before God and acknowledge our dependence upon Him for all that we are and all that we do. ‘Cause we can’t do a thing without His grace.
Good thing He delights to give it!
“Grace be with you” (Colossians 4:18, 1 Timothy 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:22, Titus 3:15, Hebrews 13:25).