Grace Extended

Scripture: Romans 12:3 HCSB  - For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

Unmerited favor … “God’s favor toward the unworthy” … God’s choice to forgive us, bless us, keep us, provide for us and protect us even though we don't deserve it. Simply put, that’s GRACE!

Like when we respond wrong to someone or when we “blow our testimony” but God presents the opportunity for us to fix it … or He fixes it for us – GRACE! Or when He speaks to us, specifically tells us what HE wants us to do and exactly how He wants us to do it. But we choose to do things our own way; it becomes a horrendous mess and then He smooths things out like His disobedient child was never disobedient – GRACE!

Each and every day we live and move and have our being, sometimes not even recognizing or acknowledging the wonderful gift of His grace. Yet when we feel like someone has offended us or wronged us, we are quick to hold grudges, not speak to that person, avoid them … even try to call down God’s wrath on them! We immediately forget the grace that is/was extended to us by our Heavenly Father! He doesn’t hold grudges against us; He continues to speak to us, that is if we are listening. He doesn’t avoid us; He wants to hear from us. He wants to have an intimate relationship with us. He continues to pursue us when we busy ourselves with the mundane things of this world, things that have no eternal value nor bring Him glory!

Remember, we are constantly evolving into what God wants us to be; He is always working on and in us. He loves us! He created each one of us with a specific purpose in mind – His purpose! And He made it so that we needed one another to encourage our growth in this walk with Him! He sees us as His masterpieces, intricately detailed down to the number of hairs on our heads. He cares for us more than we will ever know. And His grace covers our faults, His grace sustains us in our God – ordained trials, His grace is sufficiently strong in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

So the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, reaches across you in the grocery store or says/does something that offends you, ask God for His discernment on how to respond. You may not need to respond at all – just extend GRACE!

Prayer: Father! Thank You for Your Grace! Without it, we would not be able to walk this journey! Thank you for forgiving us for taking advantage of Your grace; claiming You as our Father but living our lives in contradiction to Your Word. No matter what, help us to remember that Your grace IS sufficient! May we never tire of seeking Your face, for that is where we realize the magnitude of the grace You extend to us daily! In Jesus’ Name we always pray, AMEN!

(By Cassaundra Turner)