Yesterday, I took a scissors and cut off the tape from a box that enclosed a second microwave
which had been delivered to our house—my husband had found a better bargain. Needless to say, my coffee routine was
performed in much less time this morning than it had been the past few weeks.
While the microwave had been there all along, it wasn’t enough to know that the
brand-new microwave would speed up the time I heated up my milk and creamer for
the espresso on the stove. To access the
power, I had to actually open the box, plug in the microwave, and experience
the rapid heating of the liquid.
In our Christian lives, a power source exists that radically
altars the way we live—God’s grace.
One gift at a time, grace is God’s strength provided for
us.
One day at a time, grace is the riches of Christ available
to us.
Some have defined grace with the acronym “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense,” for without the shed blood of Christ on Calvary, believers
would be powerless to live grace-filled lives in the reality of this evil
world. As we acknowledge the propensity of our own sinful hearts and the depth
of our own depravity, we are propelled to reach out for this
amazing gift of God. Through Christ, grace gives us the answer for living, for
responding, for “working out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil.
2:12) in each of life’s circumstances and situations.
Grace illustrates Christ within us, the Hope of Glory. His grace is the ticket out of every temptation
(1 Cor. 10:13)—even if nothing changes externally! Grace is the work of Christ in the heart
through the power of God's Holy Spirit within.
It radically alters everything about us, even if nothing on the outside seems
different.
Grace is a powerful notion.
A life-changing concept. A
radical transformation of our hearts from the inside out.
It’s Spirit-empowered living because of the power of the
Gospel.
How often did Paul begin his epistles, “Grace to you…” or
“Grace…from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”? It was wish, a prayer, a hope, a belief that
the believers he cherished would experience the liberation of their spirits in
a life of transformed, Spirit-empowered living.
Grace is the liberating reality that empowers believers to
live life dominated by the Spirit of God, loving and forgiving others who
fail. Outlandishly. Because that’s what Jesus did for us. Believing the best about a situation when
things look darkest. Because that’s the
character of the God of love. And
reaching into the lives of those in our surroundings to touch them with the
same grace that we have received.
Because that is the example of Jesus.
I’m amazed at Paul’s words to the Philippians—“Ye all are partakers of my
grace.” And this is the heart of God for
us—that we, who have freely received spiritual riches from His hand should also
live, empowered by God’s strength, to affect all in our surroundings with His
grace!
Galatians 5:13-6:10 powerfully illustrate the ramifications
of the gifts of grace—the fruits of God’s Spirit. Living in the freedom of grace kindles within
us a desire to serve each other in love, for self-denying service is the normal
outgrowth of such liberty. Not
license. Not legalism. But freedom to serve God and love others in
ways we never knew were possible.
Grace transforms our conversation, making our words gifts of
grace that build up, ministering God’s strength to the hearers (Eph. 4:29). The grace of God can’t be stopped. It’s more powerful than any sin around us,
any sin within us.
Often emerging from the pain of difficulty, God’s grace
paints a picture of the beautified Christ reaching out to others.
Dear believer, may you allow God’s grace to touch your
weakness today and transform your heart daily into the likeness of Christ.
As was true in Paul’s life, God’s grace can extend from you
to everyone you touch!
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