We are used to thinking of grace in salvation terms as “God’s undeserved favor.” It also means Jesus is always working through His Spirit in everything. It builds us up, sustains, and nourishes (Grace At Work–Gary Mulquiney). As you follow this seven-day plan, take the time to really look for ways His Spirit is moving and working in your day-to-day life!
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Day 1
Scripture: Titus 2:11-14
Say Yes
When I was young, I was taught a way to think about grace–gifts received at Christ’s expense (GRACE). It continues to remind me that it’s only through the saving work of Jesus, His death and resurrection, that there is grace. He is the grace of God that Paul talks about to Titus. That grace so freely given means that we want to eschew the choices that lead us away from God and towards the things that honor Him. This is the way we try to live while we await Jesus’ return.
The last couple of lines sum it up well–Jesus has given Himself for us to redeem us from our sin and make us clean, pure, to be His people, eager to please Him and to serve Him.
This is reflected in our lives. We know we can’t earn our salvation, and we want to please Him. We accept the gift offered to us because of the cost that Christ paid so that we may have salvation and eternal life.
GRACE. Say yes to salvation; say yes to Jesus’ offer.
Day 2
Scripture: Matthew 27:41-42
Love Kept Him There
Last year on Good Friday, I explained the cross to my (then) 3-year old for the first time. It’s not an easy job with someone who doesn’t yet understand the concept of death. I was very thankful to have an excellent kids’ Bible by my side (The Jesus Storybook Bible … it comes highly recommended!).
I tend to get quite emotional whenever I read through the story of the crucifixion. This, however, was on another level! As I chatted through the narrative with my boy, the bit that got me was the religious leaders mocking Jesus. The Jesus Storybook Bible points out that, if He wanted, Jesus could have ended it all with a word. As people hurled insults and challenged Him, Jesus could have called down a legion of angels to His side. The thing is, though: “You see, they didn’t understand. It wasn’t the nails that kept Jesus there. It was love.” I realized more than ever that for Jesus, the cross was a decision. Every moment He hung there, He was choosing to be faithful to the Father’s will.
This is a profound picture of the grace of God–that even as the so-called “religious people” mocked and ridiculed Him, He chose to love them to the very end. And it becomes even more personal for me when I consider the words of the old hymn: “Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers, It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished, His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.”
Day 3
Scripture: Romans 15:7
Conquering Shame
Grace is kindness shown to those who don’t otherwise deserve it. I receive God’s kindness even though my all-too-human imperfections might keep me from this God. Grace is being accepted by God even though aspects of my life are unacceptable to Him and to me. So it is in no way a reward for goodness. I may not be very good, but am yet loved and embraced by the One who made me and loves me.
Grace conquers shame. Sadly, some feel heavily burdened by the weight of their sin and shame. But our gracious God, while knowing all about our sins, still offers His hand of mercy and help. His grace doesn’t ignore our imperfections. It rather reminds us that they have been dealt with by Jesus on the cross.
Once we let this reality of grace sink in, we are better able to enter into grace-full relationships with others. If I despise or dismiss myself, I will most likely do the same to others. If I can’t accept myself, with all my faults, I will not find it easy to accept others with their human failings.
God’s grace is about Him accepting me even as He doesn’t approve of all I do or say or think. It’s a liberating grace because it enables me to accept others without approval. It is the powerful antidote to shame. His grace heals me of the shame I do not deserve, and the shame I do. It is a grace whose Christian name is Jesus.
Day 4
Scripture: Acts 20:32
Grace at Work
I had a terrible Christmas last year. The year did not end well, and I was feeling super-stressed and depleted. End-of-year deadlines were met, but I became sick–starting on Christmas Day. It was a summer flu, and I spent a lot of time feeling fatigued and not interested in much. So, where was grace for me?
As a wisdom coach, I knew God could work anywhere, anytime. This helped me to start looking for what His grace might be making possible in my sickness.
I found grace working in three ways: First, it made me stop and draw aside to Him. Inconvenient? For Sure! Was God in it? I now say, “Yes, Yes, Yes!” as He used it to set me up for 2024. Second, He did this by sending a wonderful book my way that I finished and that will change the way I work and live. WOW. And third, He showed me His Spirit is always working even in times like these and I should trust Him.
We are used to thinking of grace in salvation terms as “God’s undeserved favor.” It also means Jesus is working through His Spirit in everything and at all times to build us up and to sustain and nourish us until eternity starts. From being super-stressed I went to Super-Wow!
So, I encourage you to look for what God’s loving working (grace) could be making in your life and relationships and work today.
Day 5
Scripture: John 8:10-11
Grace and Restoration
God does not just want to forgive your sin; He wants to change your life!
The fact that Jesus didn’t condemn this woman’s sin does not mean He didn’t care about it. His intention was to redeem her life from the destructive nature of that sin. And it’s the same with you.
Yes, Jesus is so ready to pour out His mountain of grace on your life. That grace is so much greater than all your sin, even though you have hurt Him deeply and personally. He wants to restore your relationship with Him and make it even better that it was before.
And the beginning of that restoration, the foundation of all future spiritual growth in your life, is for you to come back to step one of all spiritual growth. Bring your life, and especially that area of sin, back into a total commitment to the leadership of Jesus Christ.
Then feel the growth process begin to operate once again. You’ll be like the tree in Psalm 1:3–”That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither–whatever they do prospers” (NIV).
Day 6
Scriptures: Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-2
Uncomfortable Grace
Being the subject of God’s steadfast and profound grace is the most beautiful thing in the world. My first encounter with God’s grace literally took my breath away. How could it be that He would love someone like me? The second revelation I had of His grace was something entirely different and much more uncomfortable—that His grace was extended to everyone who turned their hearts back towards Him, irrespective of what they had done.
At the end of WWII, prominent Nazi’s charged with war crimes were put on trial in Nuremberg. American chaplains Henry Gerecke and Sixtus O’Conner were tasked with taking spiritual care of these men during their trial. Henry Gerecke’s goal was “to save the souls of as many of these men as he could before they were executed” (Mission at Nuremberg by Tim Townsend). These men were the masterminds of the holocaust charged with crimes against peace and against humanity. Surely there’s a limit to God’s grace? Gerecke was widely criticized for ministering to these men, receiving hate mail and threats from people who found this act of grace too much to bear, but who decides who deserves to hear the Gospel? Jonah had the same problem … he had a real understanding of God’s grace, but he also wanted to see the people of Ninevah pay the ultimate price.
True grace can be incredibly uncomfortable, but that’s what makes it so divine. Only a divine, gracious God who’s very being is LOVE could come up with a grace so complete.
Day 7
Scripture: John 1:17
The Gift of Grace
Grace and mercy are words that are often used together, and interchangeably, but they are two very different words. While mercy is defined as withholding a just consequence for a wrong done, grace is the action of giving in a situation where it has not been earned. Mercy is freedom from deserved punishment. Grace is favor we did nothing to deserve.
Mercy is allowing us to spend eternity with the presence and spirit of God, even though we were born into sin and deserve to endure the consequences of embracing our sinful nature. That in itself would be merciful, but God did not stop there. He made away for us to experience grace.
Grace is why we have a mansion prepared for us in heaven and are promised the gift of eternity with Jesus, in God’s presence. While none of us have done anything to deserve it, Jesus’ death and resurrection made a way for us to have it. He paid the price for our sins, so we can have this and more. Before Jesus came, the law given to Moses by God dictated what punishment was required for sin. The truth is many things required the punishment of death.
Grace is offered to us through the life and death of Jesus, allowing us the opportunity to not only be absolved from the punishments we deserve, but also to be given what we don’t deserve. All we have to do is believe Jesus died for our sins, ask for forgiveness, and accept a relationship with Him, allowing Him to come into our hearts, and becoming co-heirs with Him. This is the gift of grace.