This past Sunday we got to hear a message from Jon & Gabby (Leaders of Peace House in Greece) and a testimony from Steven & Amanda (members of the LifeSpring family). One of the themes I picked up from both the message and the testimony was the theme of Grace.
Jon & Gabby shared their personal testimonies of how God met them in their darkness and brought them out into His wonderful light. They shared about how the grace of God has been instrumental in their decision to become missionaries and in the work that they do today. From being recipients of grace in their personal lives, they are now able to extend that same grace they received from the Lord to others in their care. At Peace House, I got to witness their genuine care and love for their team and the refugees that came into that place. Whether it was giving them a chair to sit on or preparing an authentic Afghan meal to remind them of home, God’s grace was in it. They had no way of knowing who would come and how many would show up, but God’s grace was seen in the day to day provisions.
Steven & Amanda had shared about their fertility journey and how God’s grace has brought them through all the unknowns and difficult times. Amanda shared that she received a word from Karyne about how God delights in her and her response was, “What did I do to make God delight in me?” Amanda had made the association that God delights in us because of what we do. But the truth is that God delights in Amanda. Period. That hit home for me because I have said the same thing to God many times. When I’m doing well, I naturally think that the Lord is pleased with me. When I’m not doing well, I assume that the Lord does not delight in me. Granted, He might not like my ways but He always delights in His children. What Amanda shared reminded me of how we sometimes try to earn God’s love in our lives. Steven shared a powerful lesson that sums it up very well. He said, “Grace stops becoming grace when you have to work for it.” When we try to work for God’s love and His grace in our lives we rob ourselves of the free gift from God.
The world in which we live does not operate out of grace. More accurately, it operates out of reward. Reward is often given out of recognition for one’s effort, service, or achievement. Grace, however, is simply the free and undeserved favour of God. It was birthed from a place of love from our heavenly Father, given to all who choose to receive it.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Grace is a lesson that we will forever need to learn. Even when we receive the grace of God in one season, life has a funny way of making us forget. Do you ever feel like God has grace for some things and not others? Well, that might be an indication that we need to learn how to receive His grace all over again. Whatever the situation or circumstance we are in and wherever we are in life, the lesson of grace will always need to be received again and again and again. I know I am continually learning to receive God’s grace in every area and moment in my life. I’m encouraged to hear the stories of God’s grace in the lives of others. It helps me to remember how good God is and how much He loves us.
Take some time to reflect on your own life:
When was the last time you received God’s grace in your life?
What did it look like? How did you feel? How did you respond?
Father, We thank you for your grace. We thank you that you love us so much that you sent your son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We pray that we would continue to see your grace in our lives in both the big and small things. May we extend that same grace that you gave us to those around us. Help us to be your conduit of grace to those who need it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!