Journal Entry ~ 11/01/18

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is unmerited favor. It isn't the result of doing anything ourselves - we can't earn it. We can't serve enough, know enough, or love enough to earn salvation. We have it because of His grace alone. 

Why is this important?  Because if you had somehow earned your salvation, that means you could lose it as well. If we earned our salvation because of something we did, then it wouldn't be grace at all - it would be a reward.  And while rewards are great, they are shallow motivators. Any parent knows that rewards work for a little while, and then they fade. 

Our salvation is only a gift because we have done nothing to earn or deserve it. Once we have received the gift of grace, our purpose is to glorify Him by showing God's amazing grace to the world around us. We did nothing to deserve His favor, why do we continually make the people in our lives work for our favor?  We have such a tendency to hold people to a higher standard than we hold ourselves, and when they fail to meet our expectations, we punish. We think we have a right to judge and hand out consequences when people fail us. But we are called to show the same grace God has shown us. 

We can continually demonstrate His favor upon us - even in hard times. I have walked through some of the darkest days I could have ever imagined, and I know it is only by the grace of God that I came out the other side. Leaning on Him is the only way I made it through, and I let everyone in my path know that truth. His grace allows us to endure, and His grace gives us strength in the toughest battles. His grace is sufficient for anything we face. If you are in Christ, God has graciously set His love and His grace upon you. You have access to that grace any time you need it - He lives in you. Praises for His everlasting grace!  


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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