Be Gracious

Grace, like God’s love is a free gift.  What does God’s grace add to our lives?  It is the power to accomplish something greater than ourselves through the favor of God that granted us this grace.  The forgiving of our sins and the availability of salvation is only the beginning of this grace.  Eph 1:6-8 says, “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (NIV)  2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  (NIV)  God wants us to abound in his grace and power to accomplish the plan He always had for our lives.

We have to actively accept the gift of grace.  It can be multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus.  2 Peter 1:2-4 tells us this:  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (NKJV)  Through our relationship with Jesus we can grow in knowledge of Him and God’s great gift of grace in order to show the world who God really is.

In my last couple of entries I talked about knowing and showing God’s love.  We also need to show His grace.  How do we do that?  Colossians 4:6-6 tells us how.  “Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.”  (NLT)  We need to know how to talk to people in the way Jesus would.  We cannot accomplish this without His grace.  We must get to know Him better and better.  Last year I posted about our Christian lives needing to be a relationship with Jesus.  This is why.  Without Him we do not get to know God and understand this gift of grace that helps us proclaim to the world who He is.

It is not an easy thing, but I feel any good thing is worth some effort.  I know for a fact that even as I studied to write this I was tested in how gracious I could be.  I wound up getting angry with some people with how they were handling a situation.  My assumptions were proven wrong, so I graciously admitted to being wrong and thanking them for telling me so.  I did explain why I had come to those assumptions in order for them to understand why I did mess up.  Of course, there are at least three answers you will get when you admit to being wrong:  1) the mad will stay mad at you, 2) people will not care that you admitted your wrong, and 3) people will be glad for your acknowledgement and explanation.  Do not expect everyone to be happy when you graciously admit a wrong.  We are not here to make everyone like us.  We are here for God and the great plans He has for us that allow the world to know Him.

Paul exhorts Timothy to always be ready for the questions that will come his way in  2 Timothy 4:2.  “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season . Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (NKJV)  We need God’s grace in order to be ready no matter how we feel, what our circumstances are, or what the world thinks.  We need to know how to share the truth of God, even the rebukes that should be shown with love.

Walk in God’s grace and love knowing He will help you be the person you were meant to be and show the world who He is.