GRACE

‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “GRACE, GRACE to it! – Zechariah 4 Corinthians 9:11

Welcome to August, our Month of GRACE. Today, we’ll meditate on ‘What Grace Is’. Grace is one the most commonly used words in the Bible, yet one of the least understood words. Grace is the unmerited favour of God, personalized in the Lord Jesus Christ: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of GRACE and truth” (Jh.1:14). Grace is more than a principle; it is a spiritual substance, personalized in Jesus Christ – the Son of God.

Grace is evidenced in the Lord of creation stooping down to touch mere sinners: “Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?”  (Ps.113:5, 6). Romans 5:6 also reveals that “when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” God did not have to do anything for Adam and Eve, but He did; in His Mercy He clothed them with coats of skin: “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them” (Gen.3:21). Grace is the chief evidence of God’s love, concern and compassion for mankind.

Grace is God’s divine enablement freely made available to man: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom.8:32).  Paul went on to declare excitedly, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph.3:20). Grace comes to help our human limitations, and cover up for our inadequacies and insufficiencies. Grace is the divine input that makes up for our human shortcomings or weaknesses. The Lord told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My Strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9a). Grace comes to complement our limited human abilities.

Grace is supernatural enhancement of our gifts or talents. Grace enhanced Esther’s natural beauty and ushered her into the palace (Est.4:15-17; 5:1-3). The Greek word for “Grace” is “charis” which means “beauty”. Charis makes your gift beautiful, attractive, and outstanding. Charis adds “Charisma” to your character and personality. Grace turns the common into the commendable. Paul described the transforming power of grace in his life: “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 that they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor.15:10). He ascribed it all to grace – all of his achievement, attainments, and accomplishments. Grace turned the simple maid – Esther – into the Star that she was destined and called to be. Grace transformed Peter, an uneducated fisherman into an Apostle! Grace brings God’s glory into the story of your life. Only then can your destiny have meaning!!!