Live in God's WillSample

                                        Part Two: What’s God’s Will for Us to Do?

DAY 9: Live in God’s will by being gracious to others.

God wants us to excel at giving grace to others. We can only do this when we grasp what an incredible gift His grace and mercy is to us personally. We experience God’s grace through His unconditional love, forgiveness and presence, even though we’ve done nothing to deserve it. We experience His mercy by not being condemned and separated from God for all of eternity due to our sins.  The reality is, we deserve the wrath of God. We do not deserve God’s blessings. We deserve discipline and consequences for our rebellion. Yet, God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die in our place. Jesus took on the wrath of God so that we won’t have to receive it. We have been forgiven. We have been set free. We have been given the Holy Spirit to live inside of us so that we can live a victorious life. That is mercy and grace He pours on us! 

God’s grace should bring deep joy, gratitude, and hope. Even in times of testing, trials, and affliction, we can thank God that He is good, He is in control, and His grace is still upon us. He has an eternal plan more magnificent than we can imagine for our lives. God’s will for us is not only to accept His grace and mercy but to give it to others. When we grasp the significance and depth of the grace and mercy God’s given us, then we are able to give that same grace and mercy to others.

When we give grace to others who don’t deserve it, we are living out the gospel in a powerful, tangible way. God wants us to excel in providing grace to others because this is one of the ways they will experience God through us. This means we forgive even if the person doesn’t ask for forgiveness. We believe the best in others instead of questioning their motives. We come alongside them instead of creating a barrier. We allow them to fail and encourage them to get back up and try again. Giving others grace shows we are “for” them in their journey of sanctification, instead of “against” them. We come alongside of them because we know we need God’s grace daily as well. 

It is God’s will that we are gracious toward others, just as Jesus was. The world is full of judgmental people. Sadly, Christians are some of the worst. What if we resolved to be less judgmental and more grace-filled to those around us? How many more people might then be open to experiencing the grace of God through the gospel? 

· How do you need to think differently about grace in order to give it away more freely? 

· Who do you need to give grace to, and how will they know you are doing that? 

PRAYER: 

Father, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for sending Your Son so that we can have a personal relationship with You. We do not need to fear Your judgment or wrath. Thank You that we can look forward to Your forgiveness and blessings. Help us, through Your Spirit, to be more grace-filled to others so that people may experience the gospel through us. Amen.