For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift- not from works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Maybe if you are a bit older, like me, and grew up in church, you can remember singing about grace on Sunday morning. Older hymns were full of mentions of this incredible gift. Remember this one?
Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Grace, like the old hymn says, is truly amazing. You don’t have to worry about being good enough, measuring up, or doing enough to earn your way into heaven. The truth is, none of us are good enough, none of us can ever hope to measure up to God’s standard, and none of us can ever do enough good things to earn our way into heaven on our own. Grace says that is ok, quit trying so hard and just accept the gift. Grace says that anyone can receive the gift of salvation because your past no longer matters. You may not deserve grace, but you get it anyway. We must be careful not to cheapen this grace, however. Grace is not a license to do and live as we please. It might be a free gift but it most certainly cost the Giver. We should reflect this grace by living a life that honors the gift and the price paid.
Thank God for grace.
Pastor Rowena