We have been saved by a grace that we do not have the capacity to understand completely. It is beyond our intellectual ability to fathom, and too incredible for our emotions to come to terms with.
Yet, it is the cornerstone of our God's personality, and ties in perfectly with His love, kindness, and mercy.
It is by His grace that we have been rescued from death. It is by His grace that we have been healed. It is by His grace that we can come boldly before His throne.
It truly is the most amazing grace, but I'm not sure that we always remember how important it is in our lives.
The practical application of grace
We actually need to demonstrate the grace that God has offered us, in the way we deal with people. Like God, we also must be full of grace. God so loved the world that while we were still sinners He sent His only Son to die so we may live.
In the same way, we must show the same grace to those around us.
This is easier said than done! When someone wrongs us, we must be the first to have grace and mercy. We must be the first to forgive.
We must operate out of love. How hypocritical and selfish to take the grace and mercy that God has offered to us for ourselves, and then give the opposite to our fellow man.
Grace in the face of condemnation
Grace also must extend to the way we share the gospel. We must have the grace to meet people where they are at. It may be tempting to attack with the truth of the gospel (especially when someone has an opposing view!), but all that does is force them further from God.
An attack always comes from a point of condemnation, and condemnation is not found in grace. Some defences may be along the lines of, 'oh well, at least they heard the truth, the rest is their choice'.
We can be right in what we say and wrong in how we say it. We must have grace when we share the truth. Grace allows room for conversation; it makes space for friendship, and is the basis of a relationship with our Father.
So I encourage you, do not forget that we have been saved by grace alone and by no works of our own. Let's be thankful for this amazing grace, and in turn show it to all those around us, in every way.
Samuel James is a Media Communication graduate based in Wollongong.
Samuel James' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/samuel-james.html
