You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come.- Psalm 102:13 (NASB)
It is the grace of God at work in the life of a person that makes the journey and adventure of life great. Outside of the grace of God, you and I will be grounded in the race of life. For without grace, man is grass. Without the grace of God, man is an object of disgrace.
Grace is a Free gift of God (See Ephesians 2:8). Grace is un-merited, you can not merit it, neither can you work for it. You can not earn it, neither can you purchase it. Grace is an expression of the love of God to all mankind.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.- Titus 2:11
The outcome of the of the grace of God at work in the life of a man or woman is the manifestation of the glory of God upon the life of such a man or woman. We know that the opposite of grace is disgrace. Grace is the answer to every issue of disgrace, the antidote to every case of shame, reproach and misfortune.
It [Grace] teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,- Titus 2:12 [Brackets mine]
The workings of the grace of God in our lives this new year will teach us to give up every un-godly attitudes, forsake all bad habits, abandon all sinful lifestyles we may have been living before. And help us embrace godly, upright, good, blameless, righteous habits, attitudes and lifestyles such as will glorify the name of our Father in Heaven.
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.- 2 Corinthians 6:1
Nobody in his or her sane mind would like to be an object of disgrace in life. So for us to avoid any form of disgrace, shame and reproach in our ways and lives this year, we must position ourselves and ensure that we do not receive God's Free Gift (the Grace of God) in vain.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.- 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV)
So into 2009 we journey on by the Grace of God. The good news is: His Grace is sufficient for us.
Happy 2009!!!
Scriptural passages taken from the New International Version, unless stated otherwise.
Thanks for the great reminder about the grace of God working in the lives of His people. I send greetings to you from Canada where we too are endeavoring to move forward in the grace and mercy of God.
Posted by: Bill Clark | Monday, January 12, 2009 at 07:55 PM