The Perfect Gift of Grace
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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” -- Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
After my mom died, we went through her apartment, clearing out her belongings and trying to preserve the memories. I tucked her essential paperwork away in a secure spot, just in case I needed to access them later. Then, when I went to gather the papers to close out her accounts, I realized I couldn’t find them. I searched for days, my eyes straining in the fading light, my hope dwindling with each passing hour. Tears streamed down my face in frustration, and I desperately searched for solace in prayer. After I finished my prayer, I felt an urge, a nudge from God, to check behind the desk and I found the paperwork. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, easing the tightness in my chest and replacing it with a sense of calm.
As I reflected on this event, I recalled the parable of the Lost Coin in the Bible, where God’s love and grace are offered even when we’re lost and undeserving. Let’s take a moment to think about the incredible gift of grace.
The Gift of Grace
Webster’s Dictionary defines grace as, “the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.” Thus, grace is a free and unmerited gift from God. Yet, sometimes, I believe we do not fully grasp the beauty and significance of God’s gift of grace in our lives.
When we try to extend grace to those around us, we fail miserably because of our broken and sinful nature. Since we are incapable of giving grace perfectly, we cannot understand God’s perfect gift of grace. He died for our sins, freeing us from the sting of death forever. Christ continues to welcome us back to Himself each time we sin and repent.
Other Lessons from the Gift of Grace
The unexpected grace we’re given unveils countless insights and lessons. Also, we come across these added benefits from godly grace.
· Mercy
· Forgiveness
· Charity
· Compassion
· Favor
· Generosity
· Tenderness
· Goodwill
· Pardon
God gives these additional gifts of grace to us so we can offer them to those around us. Grace frees us from the burdens of our sins and teaches us how to treat others.
The grace of our Lord Jesus allows Him to love us despite our sins, even the ones hidden deep in our hearts. Nothing we do can earn this gift of grace. His gift is perfect and baffling at the same time. But without grace, we might be lost forever.
Question for Reflection:
1. As we enter 2025, what types of things do you need to do to make extending Grace to others a foundational precept of your daily life?
