Grace is one of those words we use almost without thinking about it. We say someone is graceful. We say grace before meals. We have a grace period to pay our bills. And, of course, we sing that most famous and well loved of all Christian hymns: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…”
But grace, especially in its Christian meaning, is a word that deserves our attention. The grace we receive from God through Christ deserves to be mulled over, contemplated and prayed. We shouldn’t toss it off like a found penny, unaware of its deep meaning and power. For if we have a relationship with God, it is only because God initiated that relationship by his grace — by his free and undeserved communication and union with us. God’s gift to us is grace, and our ability to accept it is the work of grace.
We are surrounded by grace as fish are surrounded by water, unaware that it is there at all even though we would die without it. God’s grace is pervasive and complete in our lives — our very life and breath are, after all, gifts and not mere happenstances. Once again, I’ll give a contemporary songwriter the last word today. John Mark McMillan writes in his beautiful song “How He Loves”:
And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
Ask yourself in silence: If not God’s grace, what have I surrounded myself with? Am I trying to earn God’s love and grace, or am I able to just accept the free gift being offered?
God’s grace is there for the asking. Thank you Lord for this precious gift. Thank you for allowing me to use this grace to have a better life. Each day is a renewal. I praise you Lord for the gift of grace. May I be aware that it is always there for the asking. What a precious gift.