Unexpected Joy: Finding True Purpose in SurrenderSample

God’s Grace

For those of us who think we are pretty good, God’s grace isn’t that big of a deal. On the other hand, if we have a proper awareness of the severity of our sin and our inability to offer anything meaningful to God, his grace becomes immeasurable and completely transformative.

In addition to pursuing a better awareness and understanding of your sin, it’s helpful and practical to pay attention to how you react to the common grace in your life. Are you truly grateful for those moments? Do you celebrate when grace is given to others? What about people you don’t know personally? When people teach about the famous parable of the prodigal son, the focus is often on the grace given to the younger brother who squandered his inheritance only to be accepted back, without condition, by his father. Equally as important, however, is the reaction of the older brother, whose sense of justice can’t handle the grace given to his undeserving brother.

If you truly understand God’s grace, it will show in how you extend grace to those around you—even to those who have hurt you deeply, and don’t deserve it. That’s the point, actually. If you are hesitant to extend grace to others, you may not have a proper understanding of the grace you’ve received. If you don’t think much of God’s grace, odds are you think you’re a pretty good person, at least in comparison to the people around you. To say God’s grace is just undeserved favor is limiting. Everything we have is by God’s grace, including the awareness of his grace. As Paul said in his letter to the Christians in Rome, “If by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6).

There is nothing more encouraging and strengthening than to personally experience the truth and wisdom of Scripture. Understanding and experiencing God’s grace shapes our lives more than anything else. God teaches us what a real Jesus follower should look like, and that there is grace for us in every situation.

Something to Remember:

Everything God has done for us, and everything he has promised to us, is completely out of his grace; it has nothing to do with us, our actions, or our good works.