I’m thinking a lot lately, really the last few years, about the word grace. What a beautiful word!
According to Dictionary.com it means:
- elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
- a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
- favor or good will.
- a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior
- mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
- favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
The definitions continue under the heading of “Theology”:
- the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
- the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
- a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
- the condition of being in God’s favor or one of the elect.
- moral strength
The founders of Grace Community Church and I have received so much grace we even put it in our name. Yesterday I was reminded how much our staff is a product of God’s grace. We’ve all needed lots of it. (Everyone we decided except for maybe Ben. Of course, he probably just hides it well.)
Lately though my thoughts have been on how we abuse grace. We take it for granted. We attempt to cheapen grace. We failed to accept it. We try to add to it.
Today, at least for the moment I’m typing it, I’m just going to be overwhelmed with the amazing grace my Father provides for me.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin!
What are your thoughts about the word “grace” today? Have you needed lots? Has lots of grace been given to you? Think carefully about this next question: Are you abusing grace?
The picture of grace in my mind is one of me approaching God’s throne, no matter what condition I am in, so that I can spend time with Him. I am welcome there. He listens to me. He believes me.
mindi’s last blog post..Okay, Okay
I think that we make our mistake in trying to “earn” grace or asking for grace. It should be something given freely to us and by us. The Lord blesses us all with his grace, we should bless others with ours, they need not ask for it, let alone be asked to earn it.
Grace. It saved me, it keeps me, it encourages me, it motivates me, it inspires me, it enables me, it sustains me, it humbles me. It’s all about grace…
Definitely something I don’t deserve and something I cannot even comprehend. To try to understand Grace is almost like trying to understanding Jesus – way too much for me to handle, but that doesn’t mean I don’t live in it or in Him. I cheapen grace most when I dwell on my own sin.
Chris’s last blog post..chrisstorms: Opened up the doors & windows to dry the carpets I’m cleaning and this happened (It’s Florida ya’ll). – http://twitpic.com/2yrb5
Twitter: Benreed
says:
To me, grace means not responding in anger to someone who posts an unnecessary, damaging comment about me on their blog (see above: “We’ve all needed lots of it. (Everyone we decided except for maybe Ben. Of course, he probably just hides it well.)”
Just kidding around, Ron.
I agree with Michael’s comment. I think that I abuse grace when I refuse to offer it to others. My refusal shows that I don’t truly GET God’s gift of grace, His love given when I don’t even come CLOSE to deserving it.
Ben Reed’s last blog post..Guest Post: A Review of McLaren’s “The Secret Message of Jesus”
or me it is all the tension of giving GRACE and accepting GRACE from others and mostly from God. I abuse GRACE the moment one of those gets out of balance or I use GRACE as a reason to move away from God’s best. Thanks Ron, thrilled our team church name matches up with how we are lading the folks to live.