08/11/2024
John 1:16 - “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”
Today I want to speak on one of the most important concepts revealed in the Bible, and that is Grace. Grace is a virtue, a gift from God. Webster's New World College Dictionary gives us this theological definition of grace: “The unmerited love and favor of God toward human beings; divine influence acting in a person to make the person pure, morally strong; the condition of a person brought to God's favor through this influence; a special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God.”
Grace is the unearned, unwarranted favor and love of God. Like God’s love, there is nothing we can do that can draw to us God’s grace. There is nothing we can think or believe to earn God’s grace or repel God’s grace. It is given freely to all of us, all children of God – naughty or nice. The most despicable and vile person is given as much grace as the saintliest among us. There is no measuring stick or cutoff point; no qualifications, conditions, or requirements. God’s grace is freely and abundantly given.
Of course if we are ignorant to God’s movement in our lives, if we are not attuned to the Christ energy within us, if we are closed to the Light of Spirit, we will miss the gratitude that comes with receiving God’s grace; we miss the transformative power of grace.
God's grace is always available to us, for every problem and need we face. Grace frees us from slavery to spiritual darkness, guilt, and shame, and allows us to pursue good works, enabling us to be all that God intends us to be. God's grace is amazing indeed.
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Grace is the foundation of our spiritual salvation, meaning the consequences of our wrongful actions. It is not through our own efforts that we earn God’s gifts of grace. It is a manifestation of God’s love and mercy.
We sometime confuse grace and mercy, but they are different. Grace is receiving God’s favor that we do not deserve. Mercy is the sparing of a punishment that we do deserve. Mercy is a byproduct of grace.
Grace is not just about salvation; it is about God’s strength in our times of weakness. When we face challenges, it is God’s grace that sustains us. It is in our moments of weakness that His power is most evident. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reads, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power works best in weakness.’” God’s grace appears to us as strength when we are weak. We do not have to lean on our own understanding or our own strength; we can lean on God’s grace.
The song says, “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” Grace has the power to transform us from the lost to the found, from the darkness to the light. In Titus 2:11-12 we are told, “… the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Grace is not just a passive virtue, but one that is always active – teaching us, guiding us, and transforming us. Grace gives us the power to turn from the ego and worldly thoughts and influences and live a life that is holy and reflecting the mindset of Christ.
Grace also plays a vital role in our connections with others, in our relationships, and our communities. Colossians 3:13 instructs us to “...bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Just as God has bestowed grace upon us, He desires that we extend grace to others, even if they do not deserve it.
God’s grace offers comfort and guidance when we are distraught. It helps us navigate whatever life throws at us, with a sense of peace and a knowing that God is with us. There may have been times in our lives when we felt separate from God, or unworthy, or that God was punishing us for something. This is a common trick of the ego trying to distance us from God’s love. But it is God’s grace that enters our heart, allowing the slimmest ray of Light to shine upon us that then illumines our path. Although our minds may know that God is always with us, it is God’s grace that awakens our heart to that truth so that we know it and feel it.
Grace also empowers us to serve others and fulfill God’s plans and purposes in our life. It equips us with the necessary gifts and abilities to conduct His work and share His love with those around us. It is grace that awakens us to the courage we need to see our way through a difficulty. Grace awakens us to kindness, joy, and all other virtues when we need them.
Grace is powerful. It sustains us and uplifts us. Despite what the world and ego are shouting at us, how bad things look, how terrible things are, grace is actively drawing our attention to the good, not the dreadful, to the healthy, not the rotting, not to what we have lost, but to what we have left.
Grace is additive, always adding on more to the good we have. When we can release our need to control outcomes and people, we see that grace continues to add new good to our lives – new opportunities, new friends and connections, new skills, and new mindsets. Grace brings right outcomes, the right and perfect people we need at this moment, and peace of mind. Even though Christ asks us to do all that we can in any situation, grace comes in and does more. “My grace is sufficient for you.” God’s grace brings light, solutions, strength, love, protection, supply, and guidance.
As we approach the source of grace in our times of prayer, we become aware of increased faith and understanding. We realize that we could not have gotten this far in life without the power of God’s grace working in and through us. God’s grace is able to do more good than we could ever imagine. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Grace is part of the miracles that we receive in our lives. Many of us have experienced unexpected help in times of challenge, maybe as a person, a word, a song, an idea, or an article that brought peace or relief in some form. This is God’s grace; not complicated, but vital. There have been times in my life when I felt God’s grace as a feeling of acceptance or knowing, or love, or peace. We experience grace when we receive a new insight, see a new perspective, or find an answer to a problem that had been eluding us. John 1:16 teaches, “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” There have been and will continue to be uncountable blessings of grace in our lives.
As we reflect on the virtue of grace, let us remember that it is a gift from God, a source of strength in our weaknesses, a guiding principle in our relationships with others, and a transformative power in our lives. I pray that we embrace God’s grace and allow it to shape our hearts and minds and lead us to live Christ-filled lives that glorify God.
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