Grace is the single most important narrative of the Bible. Yet, if we were to take a poll of all the people who identify as Christian using the prompt, “define grace,” the responses would vary greatly; that’s because the concept of grace is as individual as it is collective.
GRACE IN A NUTSHELL
Grace is the remarkable and underserved kindness we receive from God through His Son, Jesus. John 1:16 teaches that “through Jesus Christ, we have received grace upon grace.”
It is the unconditional love of God freely given to the unlovable.
It is the peace of God given to the broken. It is hope given to the desperate.
It is love in action that rescued a people before they even knew they needed to be rescued.
GRACE FREELY GIVEN
In a society that revolves around merit, earning, and fairness, grace seems almost too good to be true. But the reality is that there is nothing we can do to earn it, and we certainly don’t deserve it. Grace is quite literally a gift from God.
Every page, from Genesis to Revelation, echoes the triumph of grace. Children of God literally live everyday by the grace of God. It is what transforms our minds, our speech, and our behavior.
To be honest, grace just makes life easier.
Once I truly understood the concept it was like a burden lifted from my shoulders. I surrendered to God’s demonstration of love on the cross and began to actually live in this newfound freedom. Suddenly I understood that I would never be “good” enough.
None of us even have the capacity to be what we define as “good” even if we tried. But it’s okay because Jesus took care of that. And once we accept grace, there’s a crazy exchange that takes place:
He takes our weakness and gives us His strength.
He takes our sadness and turns it into joy.
He takes our lack and offers His fullness.
It’s amazingly unfair. But our responsibility is to know that grace says that we are the apple of God’s eye and we have to trust that He knows what He is doing; that He had a plan for us before we were even born! And we can trust that even though we may not be good, His plan is good for us because God is the epitome of GOODness.
GRACE IS THE CROSS OF JESUS.
That means grace changes everything.
When our current life season is weighed against grace, grace always wins. Grace is always greater.
It doesn’t matter where you are.
Grace exceeds sin.
Grace exceeds guilt.
Grace exceeds hopelessness.
Its depth cannot be measured and the breadth OR width cannot be quantified. It is an amazing, selfless gift of love to the undeserving.
Marvelous.
Matchless.
Wonderful.
Unfailing.
Infinite grace.
