I need Grace. I need it every day. I need Grace from God, and I need it at times from people. I need Grace because I’m an imperfect person who makes mistakes, even when I’m trying hard not to. God has provided me Grace through Jesus Christ, that in spite of all I have done in my life that I am not proud of, in spite of what consequences I may have endured, there is hope for me.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Grace gives me the hope I don’t deserve to grab on to. Grace enables me to stand up straight and live a full life. Grace opened my eyes and allowed me to follow Jesus Christ.
Grace allows me to let go of things and keep reaching for Christ. Grace keeps me from holding grudges. I’ve been around people who hold grudges. It destroys them from within, and causes pain to those around them. By God’s Grace, I’ve benefited from relationships with others who do not hold grudges. They bring me closer to Christ. Holding grudges witholds grace from those God intends to give it to. Grudges are the enemy of Grace; grudge holders find themselves apart from the heart, word, and hope of Christ.
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” Hebrews 21:15 (ESV)
Grace is here now for you through the cross and empty tomb of Christ. Grace is great because it doesn’t come from you, or within you, or because of you or I in any way. Grace is the business of God Himself, and He intends to give it to each of us on His authority, not the requirements we place on ourselves or the hoops others expect you to jump through.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9 (ESV)
Grace has been extended to us all in Christ. Follow Christ and extend Grace toward others. Because we have received Grace, we value it and strive to live it out among others. Grace gives people hope. Grace reproduces itself. Grace lets people who have turned their backs on the church return and not fear the negativity of others. Grace is essential to the Christian faith. You cannot follow Jesus Christ without being a giver of His Grace. Grace requires us to treat others differently.
Grace is what we must give ourselves.
I need Grace. I need it every day. I need Grace from God, and I need it at times from people. I need Grace because I’m an imperfect person who makes mistakes, even when I’m trying hard not to. God has provided me Grace through Jesus Christ, that in spite of all I have done in my life that I am not proud of, in spite of what consequences I may have endured, there is hope for me.
2 responses to “Grace is Everything”
I’m reading this and listening to Mark Shultz’s “He will carry me” and I’m so thankful for God’s grace towards me and His ability to send the right words at the right time.
“God has provided me Grace through Jesus Christ, that in spite of all I have done in my life that I am not proud of, in spite of what consequences I may have endured, there is hope for me.”
These word you shared speaks to where I am and I often do not allow myself to accept that grace. i needed to hear these words.
Thank you
A great thing about Grace is how real it is. No hoops to jump through; no people to please in order to deserve it. Already yours!