“Grace and peace be unto you…” We sometimes read it without a pause, that old familiar greeting of Paul’s. Oh, yes, Grace. Of course. God’s unmerited favor, right? Everyone knows that. But is there something more to Grace?
We might consider this passage from 1 Corinthians 15.
NIV 1 Cor. 15:10 But by the GRACE of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the GRACE of God that was with me.
Did you catch that? Grace is not just unmerited favor. It is God’s power working in us. Power – Dunamis, in Greek. And it works mightily. The resurrection power of God in operation in our lives, leading us, guiding us, using us, changing us. A dynamite word.
And how about this? Grace is our teacher!
NIV Titus 2:11-14 For the GRACE of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
It seems that GRACE is not a passive word at all. It’s not soft and cushy, not an “Oh, well, all is forgiven” word. It teaches us to say “NO” to the bad stuff and to embrace the good stuff. It works powerfully in us to prepare us for our future with Christ. It is a purifier, a refiner. It gives us that wonderful impetus, that supernatural stirring in our hearts, to carry out the Will of God.
So when I ask for GRACE, it’s not just about forgiveness. It’s about the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it’s about progress, about becoming more like Jesus and carrying out His Kingdom plans, both individually and together.
And guess where we find this GRACE? Yes, we know this.
NIV Hebrews 4:16 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.Sometimes, in the crisis, in the fire, we forget to ask. We tackle the monster in our own strength. Well, we who know Him have an option. All that we need has been provided in Jesus – all we gotta do is ask. GRACE!