Grace is defined as undeserved acceptance and love received from another. It is the undeserved favor given from one to another. Grace refers to the good, beneficial gift given by the giver to its recipient. It is a word that is truly as deep as it is wide. When discussing the topic of grace, it is essential that the conversation begin with God. Grace begins – and ends – with God. Grace is who God is and what He does. We can never fully understand the goodness and scope of God’s grace… the depth and richness of His grace.
Though we will never fully understand God’s grace (both now and in Heaven), His Word does give us some pretty significant glimpses of it. God’s grace has been put on full display for all of mankind to see (Psalm 8; 19; 139). God’s Grace rescues us from the kingdom of darkness (Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 1:13). God, in His grace, sent His only Son to redeem us (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). God’s grace sustains us (Philippians 1:6). God, in His grace, gives us good things (James 1:16-18). God’s grace changes us to continually be more like Christ (Romans 8:28, 29). In His grace, He changes us through hardship (Philippians 1:29, James 1:2-8). God’s grace allows us to withstand the temptation of sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). It has given us His Word (2 Timothy 3:14-17). His grace gives each believer spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:7-15). God’s grace enables us to live as a holy people (2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11-14).
God is not now, nor has He ever been, obligated to pour out His grace on us. God’s grace is motivated only by Him only. Grace is the basis, the foundation, for God’s relationship with man. His Grace is inexhaustible (John 1:16). God’s grace is comprehensive. It is complete. There is NOTHING God’s grace does not touch. God’s grace is perfect. It is acceptable to say that the Christian life is summed up in the grace of God.
How does a person saved, changed, growing and living in grace practically live this out in their own lives? What does a man who is practicing and portraying grace in everyday life look like? Below, I have listed a few evidences of this grace in the follower of Jesus.
Habits that mark a grace filled life:
1. Prayer
One of the men who I most admire in the Bible is Moses. Moses had perhaps the most unique relationship with God of any other person we see in the Scriptures. God, in His providence, saved Moses as a child when all other children were being executed.
After Moses fled Egypt and became a shepherd for forty years, God called him out of the desert by way of a bush that was on fire, but not consumed. God performed some of the most amazing miracles recorded in the Bible through Moses. God led Moses and Moses talked with God continually as a friend (Exodus 33:11). Moses was able to see God’s grace firsthand.
But what is most intriguing to me (and convicting as well) is what Moses did: He spoke with God…very often. Moses did not make many decisions without first speaking to God. When Moses was frustrated, he spoke to God. When he was thankful, confused, angry, scared, hungry, tired – Moses spoke to God. Moses knew that his and the Israelites’ very existence depended on God.
A man who truly understands the goodness and the grace of God is a man who prays. When he is confused, scared, unsure, thankful — he talks to God about it. God, in His grace, has assured us that He hears us when we pray (Micah 7:7). We pray for wisdom (James 1:5), help (Psalm 121:2),and guidance (Proverbs 3:5-7). We pray because we know that God can do what we cannot (Ephesians 3:20-21). We pray because God tells us to (Ephesians 6:10). We pray because we know God is the only One Who can really change us.
A man of God’s grace prays.
2. Serving
Jesus says in Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus’ life and death was about His Father. It was what God the Father willed Him to do. Jesus also tells us in John as He washed the feet of His disciples, “a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
Logically then, because the Master served His creation by providing rescue from sin and death (our most important and desperate need), we also as His messengers – ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) – should do the same.
Grace gives good things undeservedly. Grace meets needs. Grace helps hurting souls and hearts. Grace prays for people, loves people, cares, is compassionate, encourages and admonishes. Grace does not recognize inconvenience. A man of God’s grace serves the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless, those of good reputation and bad reputation, the in-crowd and the outcast.
A man of God’s grace serves.
3. Forgiveness
Forgiveness is completely an act of God’s grace! God has forgiven us of countless egregious sins. Possibly two of the most grace-filled verses in the Bible would be 1) Romans 5:8 which says, “But God shows His own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” and 2) 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Both of these verses speak of the marvelous grace of God. Even while we were STILL sinners, God made Jesus sin and He died for us in order that our sin might be justly forgiven. We have been forgiven much! God’s forgiveness is a GIFT to those that believe (Romans 3:23).
In the same way God has forgiven us, He has called and commanded that we forgive others. No matter the offense. It does not matter if we think they deserve it or not. GRACE should be given. Whether or not they accept the forgiveness being offered. GRACE needs to be given.
A man of grace has already been given much forgiveness and he recognizes that forgiveness toward one who has offended him or someone he loves is not his to withhold. The price we to make to forgive someone else is minuscule compared to the price Christ had to pay to forgive our sins.
A man of God’s grace forgives because he has been forgiven.
4. Humility
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3-11)
The King of the universe humbled Himself. He is God and yet He made Himself of no reputation. If anyone ever had a reason to be prideful and consider Himself higher than others, I would think it would be Jesus. Yet, He emptied Himself and became as a servant.
The grace shown by God to humble Himself that He may provide salvation for mankind is absolutely mind-blowing. ASTOUNDING!
We cannot show grace if we refuse to humble ourselves. It is simply impossible. As a believer, my life is not my own. It is not my place to exalt myself. We are to walk the same path as our Lord and humble ourselves, no matter the cost, that we may show grace — the same grace given to us by God. Grace-filled humility tells the story of the Gospel.
A man of God’s grace displays humility – like his master.
