What does receiving grace mean/ look like?
It means receiving forgiveness, it means receiving mercy, it means receiving pardon, it means receiving favor, it means receiving goodwill.
“For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” -John 3:34 [Favor, Goodwill]
“…’Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” -Luke 23:34 [Forgiveness, Pardon]
“…’it is finished.’…” -John 19:30 [All]
I AM GUILTY! My humanity has infected everything I’ve ever see, known, been in contact with, “loved.” But God pardoned me. I signed my life away once, along with all of my sin and shame, I accepted the pardon once, I accepted forgiveness for life, once. Grace is being given to us every day, showering down from heaven like sweet liquid honey. All we have to do every day is open our mouths and it is there. On our tongues ready to be used up with the day so we may receive more again and again and again… Receive grace from God.
Now…
How do we give grace?
Give forgiveness, give love, give pardon, give mercy, give favor, give goodwill. Don’t think so hard about it, JUST DO IT.
“…’Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins agains me? …’I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’” -Matthew 18:21-22
Give grace when it is the most difficult; when everything is irritating and everyone seems to have a bad attitude. This is the perfect excuse to pardon them, to exercise grace when it makes no sense. Don’t give up trying to give and receive grace, to learn what it means from the one who’s perfected it.
So now…
How do we exercise grace towards ourselves?
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives…” -Matthew 7:7-8
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