What is Grace?

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

 One day, a friend told me about her three daughters' interactions. Two got along very well, and there was often conflict with the third. She asked the two who got along why it was so easy for them to give grace to each other, but not to the difficult one. I had to stop her and say, “That’s not grace.” Grace does not give what people deserve. Grace is undeserved. It is a free gift to those who have done nothing to deserve it. Had they been gracious toward the difficult one, that would be grace extended. There is no such thing as deserving grace.

It Is Written

EPHESIANS 2:8 -9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Undeserved Extravagance

Our salvation and friendship with God are not earned by being good. Jesus purchased my costly salvation by being treated cruelly and dying in my place. He paid my sin debt and forgave me, and I did nothing to deserve such an extravagant gift. The gift of eternal life is a grace gift extended to the undeserving.

Prayer

Lord, I am humbled every time I think of Your grace and mercy. We would give our lives for our children and those we love, but not for the undeserving. What Jesus did for us is beyond words, the most extravagant, unexplainable, mind-blowing grace. Thank you. Help us to love like You. Help us to do even the smallest thing with the great love You poured out upon us. Show me someone who needs Your grace today.

Takeaway

Someone needs a drink of undeserved cold water today.