Grace: Receiving & Giving

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain." (II Corinthians 6:1)

Grace, it is the undeserved gift of God. It affords us the unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness of God.

We want it, we know we do not deserve it, but we humbly receive it.

Why then do we find it so hard to give it away? The Bible tells us not to be offended and to let no bitter root grow up within us. But we still want to hold onto offense and not forgive and give it over to God.

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Hebrews 12:15)

Why? Most people feel like the person that wronged them needs to pay for it, but in holding onto bitterness, resentment, the offense, and do not forgive, you are indeed hurting yourself from the weight it carries, and not forgiving is a sin.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours." (Matthew 6:14-15)

Instead, pray for the one who hurt you, as the Bible tells us to. Pray for them, show love instead as Jesus Christ shows us. Love returned instead of anger, and bitterness, will speak volumes, and minister to both of your hearts in the process.

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)

Found In Grace By Love's Embrace

by Sandra Smith

Your love surrounds me; Your grace has found me.

Your love embraces me.

When to myself, I came to an end

You were there; Your loving arms wide open

With Love's embrace and Your abounding grace.

Lost in my own efforts, I completely failed.

Weary and worn, I cried out Your Name,

"I can't do it, I'm lost and I'm done.

With a gentle, loving smile, He says,

"I've been waiting to hear the cry

of your surrender."

No judgment, just Love's embrace.

I'm not lost, but found in Grace.

We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, so we need to ask ourselves, are we representing Him well?

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." (II Corinthians 5:20)