Seeking Him: 12 Days to Spiritual RevivalНамуна

Day 5: Grace

No word brings greater joy to the heart of a follower of Christ than grace. Grace is the free gift of God to those who have sinned against Him and deserve only His wrath. Grace is God's supernatural gift, enabling us to meet His requirements and face life's difficulties. The most magnificent display of God’s grace is seen in our salvation, as described for us in Ephesians 2:1–9:

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, . . . and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 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, . . . 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.

Our situation was truly desperate until we became recipients of God’s grace. We had no hope. . . no possibility of overcoming sin’s dominion on our own. No power to initiate our own salvation. No potential of ever having a right relationship with God. We could not do anything to change or improve our situation. If our sinful condition had made us only sick or weak, we might have entertained hopes of getting better. But we weren’t sick; we were dead. Someone had to infuse life into us. Someone did.

Humankind’s sinful condition was more than an annoyance to God. Sin was not something we could apologize for, thereby patching up the relationship as if we’d simply disagreed with God. We were children of wrath—guilty and condemned. Not a pleasant thought, is it— that our eternal soul sat on death row? But where there is God, there is grace, and where there is grace, there is pardon.

God’s grace is never given as a reward for anything we could do to merit it. We must remember that God’s grace is always a gift given to the undeserving. That’s what makes it so amazing.

Have you received the gift of salvation God offers you through His grace? If not, will you now? Call a pastor or a friend who belongs to Christ and ask them to pray with you.

If you have received God’s saving grace, have you come to take it for granted or lost a sense of the wonder of what God has done for you? Take a few minutes to pray, thanking God for giving you life and saving your soul. You may want to sing a hymn or chorus like “Amazing Grace.”

As Christians, we recognize that we are saved by God’s grace alone, totally apart from our own effort or ability. However, many Christians mistakenly think that once they’re saved, it’s up to them to live the Christian life— that their own effort or ability can somehow sanctify them. So they struggle and strive to be “good Christians,” failing to realize that they cannot live the Christian life apart from God’s grace any more than they could be saved apart from God’s grace.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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. (Hebrews 4:15–16)

What about when we fail and give in to temptation? God’s grace convicts us when we sin and gives us the ability and desire to confess and forsake our sins. Have you ever sinned so greatly or frequently that you felt overwhelmed by guilt and condemnation? You couldn’t imagine how God could possibly forgive you—again! Once again, God’s grace is what you need.

Grace is one of the richest theological themes in the Bible. But it is far more than just a nice theoretical concept. God's grace is a vital, practical, transforming gift that is available to every child of God for every situation, circumstance, and moment of life.

Consider:

Read Hebrews 4:15–16. What insights does this passage give us about how to get more of God’s grace?