"Grace"

Do you know what an “ugly day” is? Have you ever just tried to dash into the market hoping not to run into anyone you know, because you were having one of those “ugly days”? A day when your clothes aren’t really matching, you are wearing a coffee stained shirt, no makeup applied…. Oh, and the hair is beyond just a mess!! And what always happens? You run into people you haven’t seen in “forever” and they look fabulous…of course!

The other day I was having one of those “ugly days” and waited until it got dark so no one would see me. Then I could take my trash bins out to the curb in my jammies (you know….the torn and stained ones). And what happened? Of course, my brand new neighbor whom I’ve never seen before stopped, got out of his car and offered to drag my heavy cans to the curb for me. What grace he extended and such kindness he showed me. But I was so mortified at my appearance that I denied the offer and quickly pushed those over-weighted cans as if they were light as a feather so I could then run back to the garage for cover. I missed the opportunity to receive grace by refusing his offer to give it, all because of my own pride.

As I laid in bed that night, I considered the times we, as Christians, chose to either refuse, ignore, or downright miss the chance to either give or receive grace. (These chances can be from those around us, as well as from the Lord Himself). Have we ever thought ourselves not worthy because of an ugly day or ugly month — or even an ugly life? Have we ever looked at another and thought them unworthy of grace somehow because of their ugliness? Thank goodness we are renewed everyday (every second) and can become more aware of that incorrect thinking, because God’s grace bypasses all of our failures, flaws, and vices.

What is grace anyway? It is unearned and undeserved favor that God gives to us. You’ve heard it said…God’s Riches At Christ's Expense. That is saving grace. It is also grace that enables us to be empowered in Christ; to help in building our character, but also to be enlarged in order to have more compassion to love like Him. Radical thinking by the standards of this world? You bet…but not radical to God’s true nature.

James 4:6 states, “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. We are actually disobedient when we do not walk in the power we have been given by the Lord. We can ONLY do it through Christ, because of Christ, and for the purpose of Christ. God has promised that “whoever has…more will be given to”, but first we must recognize our need for Him and our need for that grace. It's His grace we have and it's His grace we can give.

Thomas Aquinas was an 11th-century Roman Catholic Priest and although I'm not Catholic, I appreciate his prayer:

“ Grant me grace O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly, for the praise and glory of thy name.”

Wow, what a poignant prayer! Like Thomas, I too want to crave with passion to please God in every way. I want to earnestly inquire and go after grace, while also accepting it sincerely, then I will be able to execute, extend, and fulfill grace purely! Oh that we would reread Thomas’ prayer and make it personal to us. May we keep the humble heart God is looking to fill up for His glory. Shall we make that our prayer? Like the greetings given by the Apostle Paul…”Charis” and “Shalom”. Grace and Peace to you, for where there is the work of grace, peace always follows.