NOW WHAT? WHAT TO DO WITH GRACE

You understand what grace is and you have accepted God’s free gift of grace to you, so now what?  What do you do with the grace you have received?

I hope your heart is full of God’s grace on this Mindful Monday after celebrating Resurrection Sunday.  The risen Christ makes the free gift of God’s grace available to all of us.  Amen!

So far in this month-long study of GRACE, we have asked and answered two key questions:

1. What is GRACE?
2. How do we receive GRACE?

Today, we examine the final, and perhaps hardest, question:  What does GRACE look like?

For we know it is far easier to comprehend a concept theoretically than it is to live it out practically.

And the experience of receiving gifts is often more enjoyable than giving gifts…especially to those whom we think are undeserving.

Ouch.

Yes, this is going to hit a little close to home.  Trust me…I have the bruises to prove it.

Grace happens.

Grace responds.

Grace acts.

Grace is (present tense).

I used to think GRACE was kind of a “once and done” proposition:  God freely gives grace.  You accept it.  Grace covers all.  You are free from guilt and shame.  Now move on in your new relationship with God through Christ.

And on the initial level, this is true.  Once God gives you His gift of grace, He does not and cannot rescind the offer.  It is free, fierce, and forever, remember?

But what is next for you?  After you open this undeserving, extravagant gift of grace, what are you supposed to do with it?

Ahhh…there’s the real question:  What do you do with GRACE?

“To accept grace is to accept the vow to give it.”

~Max Lucado

The Bible reminds us in John 1:16 that from the fullness of Christ we have all received “grace upon grace.”

Grace upon grace.

I love that little phrase.  It suggests a continual, ongoing, refueling of grace.  GRACE is a well which never runs dry…you can come to it as often as you want and drink your fill.

You need to come to it daily.  You need grace to make it. You need to take this grace first for yourself and then give it out to others. It is a gift that is meant to be given away.

What to do with this GRACE?  It is pretty simple:

1. Accept God’s grace for yourself.
2. Give the grace that has been given to you to others.

Pass it on.  This is a key element of GRACE that we sometimes gloss over.  God expects (more strongly, commands) us to give out GRACE.

How?  I have come up with an acronym using word G-I-V-E to show what the Bible teaches about GIVING GRACE.

GATHER GRACE

You cannot give out what you don’t possess.  You need to go to the source to gather what you need to give to yourself and others.  We have learned that God is the only true source and perfect giver of GRACE.  Go to Him with confidence and assurance that He will give you the grace you need for every situation, every relationship, and every trial. But you need to take an active role in filling yourself with grace.  You cannot wait passively for grace to come and find you…seek it and gather it earnestly, and you will find it.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

ILLUSTRATE GRACE

Once you have received grace, you should commit to living a life of grace.  You must show by your actions instead of just telling with your words.  If grace has shaped, strengthened, and softened you, what does that look like in your life?  Are you illustrating grace by your words, your behavior, and your attitude?  God has granted you grace so that you can display it to those who are desperately hoping to see glimpses of it.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

VALUE GRACE

When you value something, you practice it, provide for it, and protect it at all costs.  Often, we take grace for granted.  We mistakenly assume that since grace covers all, we can just live any way we choose. Something like: it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission (admit it…we have all used this one!). Paul addresses this very issue in the book of Romans by rhetorically asking:  “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?” (Romans 6:1). His answer and mine are the same:  By no means!   By receiving God’s free gift of grace and casually ignoring how we live, we cheapen it.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

EXTEND GRACE

Remember the definition of GRACE we have been using?  Grace is God giving you what you do not deserve.   That is exactly how you are to extend grace to others.  It is easy to rationalize withholding grace to those who hurt, reject, and ignore you.   But those are the very people who need grace the most!  Remember the grace God shows to you despite your mistakes, inattention, and pride.  He continues to extend grace, and He can enable us to do the same even when it is hard.

So as you continue to ponder GRACE on this Mindful Monday, look for opportunities to DISPLAY GRACE throughout the week by giving it freely to those who may not want or even deserve it.