Grace is not an easy word to understand and to live
out. I’ve met some ladies named grace,
but that is not what I am talking about.
I’ve met many people who talk about the grace of God and offering people
grace, yet their lives seem to miss what grace really is.
Maybe the issue or reality of grace is one that eludes
us and is hard to find. The church talks
it up, praises God for His grace and spreads the wonders of it all the
time. But do we really live by grace? That is, do we receive and give grace freely
to others that we encounter each day?
This would include people in our home, the workplace, our school and the
people we meet on the street.
It is hard to be full of grace and give grace when we
are full of self. It is hard to give grace
to others when we don’t have grace for ourselves or forgive ourselves for our
own mistakes.
Giving 2nd chances is what grace is all about. When we extend kindness to a person who
doesn’t deserve it, we are living out and sharing the grace that God shared
with us. This cannot and must not be based
on some code or some rules that we follow and ask others to follow. Grace is based on the example of what Jesus
did for us. We don’t and never will
deserve His grace.
The church as well must step out to share God’s grace
with the people we minister to and the people we serve with. For too long the church has been known as a place
of legalism where we kick to the side those who have messed up rather than pick
people up who fail and help them get back on track.
Those 2 quotes are right on. It takes risk to give and receive grace. People know when the church and the grace we
offer are not authentic. I challenge us
to take a look at the grace we offer.
Are there strings attached? Does
this grace look the same as the grace Jesus offers?
Indeed,
you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so,
dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
Don’t just love people, really love
them. Leave no question if we mean what
we say about grace and what we offer.
Grace living is a lifestyle chosen by people who have been overwhelmed
by the grace of God. I love to see and
be part of authentic grace living.
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