Grace

The will of God will never lead you

where the grace of God cannot keep you.

Anon

"For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God. "

Eph. 2:8

Two words 'grace' and 'favor' in the New Testament King James Version are always a translation of the same Greek word, charis (khar'ece, Strong #5485). So grace is God’s favor in our lives – totally undeserved favor – favor that is the charisma of the Holy Spirit. The greatest expression of God’s grace is His eternal life and the strength to live under His care and guidance every day.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help in time of need"

Heb. 4:16

God’s grace and mercy go hand in hand. Grace gives us what we do not deserve – mercy does not give us what we do deserve.

Max Lucado has written a fabulous little book, “Grace Happens Here.” I want to show you some of the excellent and life-changing statements he makes:

This is the gift that God gives:

A grace that grants us first the power to receive love

and then the power to give it.

God has enough grace to

Solve every dilemma you face,

Wipe every tear you cry,

And answer every question you ask.

Through Christ we inherit abundant mercy.

Enough to cover a lifetime of mistakes.

Grace hugged the stink out of the prodigal

And seared the hate out of Paul,

And pledges to do the same in us.

Jesus was God’s model of a human being.

Ever honest in the midst of hypocrisy.

Relentlessly kind in a world of cruelty.

The dynamic of giving grace,

Is the key to understanding grace,

For it is when we forgive others

That we begin to feel what God feels.

Do you know God’s Grace?

The you can love boldly, live robustly

Nothing foster courage

Like a clean grasp of grace.

“My grace is sufficient for you,

for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Cor. 12:9

I don’t know about you who read this, but I definitely stand in need of God’s grace today. Thank you Max Lucado, and especially Jesus for this – the greatest of all wisdom. I know this: God's grace is sufficient for every person, going through any situation, every day!

Grace