Tuesday, July 6, 2010

God is full of grace.

23.God is full of grace. Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to grant merit where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid.
GRACE = God DOES give us what we DON'T deserve.
MERCY = God DOESN'T give us what we DO deserve.

I read an article which stated that there were at least 162 references to the Grace of God in the Bible. I believe that God truly wants us to know of his grace and mercy and that is why the writers were inspired to give us so many reminders.

Ephesians 1:5-8 (New International Version)
5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance I with the riches of God's grace
8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Many of us are very familiar with God’s grace and mercy on a personal level. I am here. For me that is as much evidence as I need that God is indeed the giver of grace and mercy.

There is great comfort in serving a God who has the infinite capacity for grace and mercy. We know that we will fall short of the mark in little and great ways. We know that we will have moments (and sometimes more) when we will fall prey to the weaknesses of the flesh. Very few of us are arrogant or foolish enough to believe that we can be sustained within our own goodness. How, then, do we obtain salvation outside of the grace and mercy of God?

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“Continued faith always depends upon God's continuing grace. We believe in God because He has been kind, loving and merciful to us: because of what he has done for us in the past and doing for us NOW, and what our faith convinces us He will do for us in the future.. We must never think that we can earn God's salvation, for it is the gift of His grace- even though God requires our faith in Him for salvation.” http://www.bibleed.com/bibleteachings/otherbibleteachings/grace.asp


We are reminded that grace and mercy are not “get out of jail free cards” which we can use for pre-planned transgressions.

Nahum 1:2-8 (New International Version)
2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.

Knowing that salvation comes as a result of the grace and mercy of God is comforting.

I pray daily for renewed faith. I thank God for continued grace and mercy. I pray for grace and mercy extended to those I love. I thank God for all He is in my life.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

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