PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• As Christians, we are called to live holy lives.
But Holy doesn’t mean perfect.
We still mess up.
But just as we are saved by grace, so does God continue to lavish grace upon us.
It’s not a free pass to sin, but isn’t it an amazing truth to acknowledge?
That there is NOTHING we can mess up so badly, that God won’t forgive.
When we confess our sins and repent of our behavior/choices — no matter how big or how small the sin was by worldly standards — God is faithful to pour His grace on us when we ask for forgiveness.
With His immeasurable grace as a reference point, we have the same opportunity to extend grace to those who hurt and wrong us…
Not because we’re trying to be perfect…
But out of acknowledgment and gratitude for what God gives us…
It’s a spiritual pay-it-forward!
Romans 5:20 says, “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…”
This is the ESV translation and it’s the version on today’s graphic.
But I think the NIV is worth sharing too — “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.”
We have the Ten Commandments to go by…
And they all boil down to the two commandments Jesus gave…
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37b) and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39b).
Through love, we are given grace.
And because of love, we can give it to others.
Amazing grace, indeed.
Today, as you pray, thank God for loving us despite our sins.
Thank Him for His abundant, amazing grace!
And ask Him to help you share grace with others, knowing that by giving it away only increases the grace you receive.
It’s truly limitless for those who are willing to accept it!