Grace is the infinite love, mercy, favour, and goodwill shown to mankind by God. If not for the grace of God, life would have been meaningless with no hope of a better future.
Whatever your past may have been, there is grace available for a second chance.
“One day Abraham Lincoln watched a plantation owner bidding for a slave girl. Figuring he was going to buy her and abuse her, Lincoln paid the price to set her free. ‘Does this mean I can say whatever I want to say?’ she asked. Lincoln replied, ‘yes’. Again she asked, ‘does this mean I can go wherever I want to go?’ Again Lincoln responded, ‘yes, you are free!’ With tears streaming down her face she replied, ‘then, sir, I will go with you.’ That’s grace!”
“A woman is caught in the act of adultery. The law is unmistakable about her punishment. The Pharisees are ready to stone her. She knows that Jesus, being righteous must agree. She has no lawyer to defend her, not even a character witness! Suddenly Jesus stoops and begins to write on the sand. Some scholars have suggested that perhaps He wrote down their sins, times, places, etc. When He looks up, her accusers are gone. He says, ‘neither do I condemn you…Go now and sin no more’. She was lifted from a position of undeniable guilt to one of unconditional pardon. She didn’t deserve it, and didn’t know it was possible. And that’s your story too, isn’t it? That’s grace.”
We have to start treating people with grace and compassion not because they are always worthy of it, but for the fact that if not for God’s grace we wouldn’t have made it thus far. God has shown us His loving-kindness countless times even when we are undeserving of it. We have to show same to others. What you sow in others, you will reap in your life.
Be grateful for God’s grace, and let your life reflect the message of grace and hope to the world.
Excerpts:
- The Word for Today, April, 2018- Bob and Debby Gass.
- Encarta Dictionary