FAITH CAPSULE: Grace is shown to man to see and find grace before God.
1 Peter 5
A preacher once explained grace with this acronym: G is for God’s; R is for Riches; A is for At; C is for Christ’s; E is for Expense. Indeed and in truth, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is kindness from God that we don’t deserve. There is nothing we have done to deserve God’s grace. Grace of God is the evidence of His love for us. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to man for restoration (rebirth) or sanctification.
Dictionary describes theological meaning of grace as: “The unmerited love and favor of God toward human beings; divine influence acting in a person to make the person pure, morally strong; the condition of a person brought to God’s favor through this influence; a special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God.”
God’s grace and mercy’s description are often mixed up only because of similar expressions of God’s favor and love. However, grace and mercy possess a clear distinction.
With grace: When man experience God’s grace, man receive favor that man do not deserve.
With mercy: When man experience God’s mercy, man shall be spared from punishment which man do deserve. For example, Lot experienced mercy and was spared from the punishment of destruction. Genesis 19:19, “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life…”
Grace is what God has SHOWN US for us to obtain His grace. Isaiah 26:10 buttressed, “Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.” Jesus, the grace of God is shown to man but hardly man do not behold the grace of God.
Ezra 9:8 also stated, “And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.” Jesus is our grace if we are able to see and receive Him and that is why Revelation 22:21 pointed out, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all… ” He is for us all but not all believe to receive. 1Thessalonia 5:28 also confirmed that He is meant to be with us “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Grace God is in place for man to see and is for man to seek God and find grace. When we seek Him we find. Genesis 6:8 stated, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Grace is shown to man to see and find grace before God.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be focus on God’s grace in all going and coming.