Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. – (John 1:16, NIV)
Yes, the Word was full of grace and truth, and from Him we all received one blessing after another. – (John 1:16, ERV)
We all live off His generous abundance, gift after gift after gift. – (John 1:16, MSG)
Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. (Oxford Dictionary) According the dictionary definition, it only makes sense to expand the term to saving grace. The first and most important aspect of saving grace is that it sets us free from the punishment deserved for our sin and shortcomings. To be “saved” is to know that this life is not the end and that we have an eternal home that is waiting for us in heaven. Our admission is free to us, yet we must trust and believe that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He has promised. Saving grace not only grants us eternal hope, but it is an ongoing blessing from God as He shows us more and more of who He is and how He loves. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. (James 1:17a) All that we are given is by His goodness and grace. Incredibly, God’s grace does not run out. Each time we ask, we are forgiven. That is not to say that we can do whatever we want whenever we want and just rely on grace, for when we know better, we must do better. We are an ongoing work in progress that continues until the day we meet our Maker face-to-face. Each time we recognize His saving grace in our lives, we are inspired and motivated to extend grace to those around us in the same way. May we ever recognize the ongoing, overwhelming, unending saving grace of our Savior, and give Him our thanks and praise for both the salvation and the blessings that He has bestowed upon us.
To know saving grace,
is to know the Lord;
it’s His endless love,
through grace He affords.
He grants forgiveness,
we do not deserve;
and pours out blessings,
and shows us our worth.
We each are valued,
beyond our measure;
He laid down His life,
because we’re treasured.
The gift of His grace,
our greatest blessing;
the way has been made,
through His preparing.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Saving Grace. Thank You that You continually pour out Your grace upon us, though it is not deserved. Thank You for every good and perfect gift that comes from You. Thank You that You made the way for us to come into a lasting relationship with You. Thank You that it is not by what we do, but through what You have already done for us. Forgive us for taking Your saving grace for granted, as You paid the ultimate price so that we might know You. Teach us to recognize Your goodness and grace throughout all of our days, and show us how to extend the same to those around us. Lead us to love well and to give grace according to Your great love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank and praise You for being our Saving Grace, for every good thing that You have given, and for the eternal hope that we know in You. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9