GOD’S GRACE SAVES US AND GIVES US SO MUCH MORE

BIBLE PASSAGE:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
(Revelation 22:21)

MEDITATION:
We hear a lot about the “grace of God”,
but what exactly does it mean for mankind?

First, and most importantly, we are saved by His grace.
    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)

    For the grace of God has appeared
    that offers salvation to all people.
    (Titus 2:11)

    And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;
    if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
    (Romans 11:6)

    He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of
    anything we have done but because of his own purpose and
    grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the
    beginning of time,
    (2 Timothy 1:9)

However, once we are saved, His grace gives us even more of what
we need to live as a child of His. We discover that He gives us grace
in huge proportions.
    The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,
    along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
    (1 Timothy 1:14)

God’s grace gives us spiritual gifts to use in serving Him.
    We have different gifts, according to the grace given
    to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy
    in accordance with your faith;
    (Romans 12:6)

We are reminded that we should not expect to receive His grace,
and DO NOTHING. When God’s grace is present in our lives, we
can expect to have changes in priorities, focus, attitudes and goals.
We can anticipate being disciples members of His ministry team.
    As God’s co-workers we urge you
    not to receive God’s grace in vain.
    (2 Corinthians 6:1)

God’s grace gives us the power to be one of His servants.
    I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s
    grace given me through the working of his power.
    (Ephesians 3:7)

God’s grace teaches us how to
faithfully use the gifts He has given us.
    Each of you should use whatever gift you have
    received to serve others, as faithful stewards of
    God’s grace in its various forms.
    (1 Peter 4:10)

God’s grace gives us the confidence
to share the Good News with others.
    Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,
    this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the
    boundless riches of Christ.
    (Ephesians 3:8)

God’s grace gives us the desire and confidence to freely share
with others what He did for us on the cross, and how He has
changed our lives.
    With great power the apostles continued to testify
    to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s
    grace was so powerfully at work in them all.
    (Acts 4:33)

God’s grace gives us a determination to do the things He has
called us to do for Him, using the spiritual gifts He has given
us. When His grace is active in our lives, we can no longer
remain a “do nothing” child of His.
    However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;
    my only aim is to finish the race and complete the
    task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of
    testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
    (Acts 20:24)

God’s grace gives us what we need to be strong in our faith.
    You then, my son, be strong in
    the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
    (2 Timothy 2:1)

God’s grace builds us up
(increasing our self-esteem and confidence).
    Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,
    which can build you up and give you an inheritance
    among all those who are sanctified.
    (Acts 20:32)

God’s grace fills us with a desire for righteousness. No longer
are our thoughts filled with sinful acts which displease Him.
    For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned
    through that one man, how much more will those who
    receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the
    gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man,
    Jesus Christ!
    (Romans 5:17)

God’s grace teaches us how to be humble
(a trait He loves in His children).
    For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
    Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
    but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
    accordance with the faith God has distributed to each
    of you.
    (Romans 12:3)

    But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
    “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
    (James 4:6)

God’s grace helps us when we are weak.
    But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
    for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
    Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
    my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest
    on me.
    (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God’s grace teaches us how to respond to others.
    Let your conversation be always full of grace,
    seasoned with salt, so that you may know how
    to answer everyone.
    (Colossians 4:6)

God’s grace helps us in our times of need.
    Let us then approach God’s throne of grace
    with confidence, so that we may receive mercy
    and find grace to help us in our time of need.
    (Hebrews 4:16)

God’s grace restores us when we have suffered.
    And the God of all grace, who called you to his
    eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered
    a little while, will himself restore you and make
    you strong, firm and steadfast.
    (1 Peter 5:10)

God’s grace helps us to increase our knowledge
of the Lord and His expectations for us.
    But grow in the grace and knowledge of
    our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him
    be glory both now and forever! Amen.
    (2 Peter 3:18)

God’s grace reminds us of the
presence of the Lord, and His love for us.
    Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father
    and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will
    be with us in truth and love.
    (2 John 3)

We are warned that some will try
to distort God’s gift of grace to mankind.
    For certain individuals whose condemnation was
    written about long ago have secretly slipped in
    among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert
    the grace of our God into a license for immorality
    and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
    (Jude 4)

ACTION:
How has God’s grace changed you? Have you discovered
a new confidence and desire to serve Him in whatever
capacity He has called you to serve? Have you suppressed
the activity of His grace in your life?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your saving grace. Thank
You also for how Your grace can change my life and make
it better. Help me to release the full power of Your grace in
my life so that I can be one of Your dedicated and faithful
disciples. Help me to overcome the idea that when You save
me, I am not expected to do anything as a child of Yours.
Renew in me a desire to serve You in whatever capacity You
have chosen for me, and to have the confidence that You will
give me whatever I need to be successful.”

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