Why is God’s Grace so important to me? Why is it part of my blog title? Why do I end each blog with “Living in Grace”? These all may be questions you may have asked yourself at one time or another when you have read my blog. If not, you probably should have.
This morning I read a devotional by Dr. Desmond Ford titled “That’s Grace”. It is part of a series of devotions from the You Version app, titled “Unlimited Love”. This devotion was quite powerful and went straight to my soul. He spoke many words that I have been feeling, but have been unable to express verbally. So now with the help of Dr. Desmond Ford, I would like to tell you Why God’s Grace is such an important part not just of my life, but of ME and WHO I AM!!!
GOD’S GRACE SAVED ME
As a child of just 6 years old, I knew I was a sinner, and my sins would keep me separated from God. Jesus’ paid the price for my sins by dying on the cross even though He had never committed a single sin! So I prayed and asked Jesus to come live in my heart and be my Savior. He has been there ever since. Yes! For over 40 years! That is GRACE!!!
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17 AMP
GRACE IS LOVE
Read Luke 15:1-7
This passage tells the story of the lost sheep. Jesus was teaching to a crowd. In that crowd, there were, “tax collectors and sinners”. Tax collectors were considered to be some of the worst people in the community; they even separated them from other sinners. That’s how bad most people considered them. Some “church people” had also gathered, you know, the Pharisees and religious scholars. This is what they had to say about “the sinners” being there, in verse 2, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” NIV. Today as I read this, I’m seeing this differently than I have before. As God loves me and as I love others, that is GRACE!!!
GRACE IS JOY
Jesus goes on to tell them about the lost sheep, and how if a shepherd had 100 sheep and lost one, wouldn’t he leave the 99 to find the one? Of course, he would. When the shepherd finds the one he rejoices! Then Jesus talks about how heaven rejoices when that one is found.
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 NIV
We should have so much JOY when a lost soul comes to Jesus!!! Joy is GRACE!!!
GRACE IS FORGIVENESS
“Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter.” Mark 3:28 NIV
If God can forgive our sins then shouldn’t we forgive others?
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” Matthew 18:21-22 NIV
I think this one has been the easiest concept for me. Notice I said concept. Not that it is the easiest to do. Yes, forgiveness is GRACE!!!
These are just 4 examples of Grace expressed to me. The wonderful thing is that I can take these forms of grace and live them out in the world. Then, hopefully, the world will see Jesus in me. I love this quote by Dr. Desmond Ford from this devotion, Unlimited Love, “Love is grace. Mercy is grace. Forgiveness is too. Joy is grace. All gifts are grace!”
My prayer is that as I live my life I am…
Living in Grace!
Angie
