The Gift Of Grace
The traditional definition of the world “Grace” is that of “unmerited favor”. It definitely is this, but I believe it is much more. The word, Grace, is used 170 times in the Bible, and refers to favor, integrity, forgiveness, redemption and power. In every instance it is a free gift. By definition, it cannot be earned. One cannot get grace through prayer and fasting, keeping the law, dedication to good works, giving of tithes and offerings or any other effort of our own. It is a matter of receiving what God has offered. In this way the giving of thanks is to say: Grace.
I have found that it is, at times, hard to just receive. When we receive a gift from someone at Christmas, we feel obligated to give a gift in return. If someone invites us to dinner, we sense the need to invite them to dinner as well. It seems that our nature, as reflected in our culture, is based on works rather than grace. Grace is the antithesis of the law. According to Titus 2:11, grace came into the world through Jesus Christ. God’s mercy and power have now been made available to man.
To understand how to receive grace, we must understand humility. Jesus tells the story, in Matthew 18, of a servant who owed his master ten thousand talents. This was equivalent to 16 years of wages. The servant could not pay this amount and begged for mercy saying: “I will pay you everything.” The master forgave him the entire debt. But the story does not end here. This servant, it seems, couldn’t just receive his forgiveness freely. He went after all those who owed him and demanded they pay him back. When they couldn’t, he showed no mercy and had them thrown into jail. Perhaps he was still trying to pay back his master.
When one is not able to freely receive grace, he will have a hard time to freely give grace. Humility is seen in one’s ability to receive forgiveness and forgive others. Jesus says that those who have been forgiven much, love much, (Luke 7:47). When we discover our own unworthiness, we find ourselves to be valued by God. Though we have every reason to be condemned and punished, we have been received as “sons” and honored to be seated with Him in heavenly places. Our past record has been wiped clean. There is no “remembering” or keeping count. Grace makes our sinful past, just as if it had never happened. What a wonderful gift to receive. Let us now give thanks.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Eph. 2:8; Mat. 18:23-35; James 4:6; Psalms 84:11