Issue 020: The Gift of Grace
Issue 020 / Episode 014
Good Morning Internet Familyyy!
Welcome to this Winner Wednesday. We are Well - Intentional and Worthy, stalwart and prepared to encourage and uplift others.
As we navigate the middle of the week, let's take a moment to reflect on the concept of grace. Grace can be a difficult thing to define, but at its core, it is the unmerited favor and kindness that God shows us, despite our flaws and failures.
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As the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." This verse reminds us that we do not earn God’s grace through our own efforts but as a free gift through faith.
To receive a free gift by faith means to accept something that is given to us as a gift without having to earn it or pay for it. In the context of Christianity, this refers to the gift of salvation that is offered to us through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift from God, given to us through His grace and mercy. It is not something that we can earn through our own good deeds or efforts, but rather something that we can receive by simply trusting in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
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Living our lives as an example of the gift God gave us requires intentional effort and a focus on developing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Here are a few practical ways to live our lives as an example of God's gift:
Develop a daily habit of spending time with God. By investing in our relationship with God, we become better equipped to live out His love and grace in our daily lives.
Cultivate a heart of gratitude. Recognize the gift of salvation that God has given us and express gratitude for it regularly. As we become more aware of God's grace in our lives, we become more humble and grateful, which in turn helps us to be a positive influence on those around us.
Practice forgiveness and love. Just as God has forgiven us, we should be quick to forgive others and show love to those around us. By extending grace and kindness to others, we reflect the love of God and become a powerful witness of His gift of salvation.
Serve others with humility. Jesus modeled the importance of serving others and putting their needs above our own. By serving others in humility, we demonstrate the selfless love of Christ and show others the impact that a life transformed by God's grace can have.
Live with integrity and honor. Our actions and words should reflect the character of Christ, and we should strive to live with honesty, integrity, and honor in all that we do. By living a life that honors God, we become a powerful witness to those around us of the transformation that God's gift of salvation can bring.
So, to receive the free gift of salvation by faith means to trust in Jesus as our Savior, believing that His death and resurrection have paid the penalty for our sins and opened the way for us to have a relationship with God. It is a gift that we receive by faith, not by our own efforts, and it is something that we can never repay or deserve.
So how can we live in God's grace? One way is to constantly remind ourselves of our need for it. When we acknowledge our weaknesses and shortcomings, we can better appreciate the depth of God's love and mercy towards us. Another way is to extend grace to others, just as God has extended it to us. When we forgive and show kindness to those who have wronged us, we reflect the same grace that God has shown us.
As we go about our day today, let's keep the concept of grace in mind and look for opportunities to live it out in our interactions with others.
Remember, we are all in need of grace, and it is only through God's mercy that we can experience true life and freedom.
In summary, let's strive to live in God's grace by acknowledging our need for it, extending it to others, and reflecting on the gift of salvation that we have received through faith. May we be reminded of the words of the psalmist in Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
Be Blessed and Encouraged Rasheeda "Food Mama" Lester