Day 8

Grace Patterns

And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 NKJV)

The word "grace" is used 128 times in the New Testament. Paul used the word "grace" 26 times in his writing to two problem-ridden churches of Galatia and Corinth. But to the church at Thessalonica and Colossae, the two most vibrant and healthy churches, he used the word "grace" only 4 times. It looks like the more problem infested a church or a person, grace is most needful and proves to inspire and becomes the tool to transform them. Contrary to popular belief that law and discipline are the remedies to the undisciplined and troublemakers, Paul employs grace even more. Paul is a strong believer that God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance - "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4 NKJV).

Grace does wonders. But so often we do not allow the grace of God to work to bring the wonder in our lives thinking it is too good to be true. Max Lucado writes:

"For some reason people accept Jesus as Lord before they accept Him as Savior". It is easier to comprehend His power than His mercy. We'll celebrate the empty tomb long before we'll kneel at the cross". What Lucado is saying is we relate easier to His lordship and power than we can to His gracious love and acceptance!

Believe in God's grace to work when we cannot. God's grace is the key in transforming people and the fellowship of believers. Abraham was justified before He was circumcised (Romans 4:10) and certainly before the law was given (Romans 4:13). It was not Abraham's discipline nor his ability to keep the law that made him righteous but because of the grace of God that was at work in Abraham. Paul points to Abraham as the prototype of grace! The first book of the Bible--Genesis talks about the grace of God. For it is no longer I who live but Christ living in me-- this is grace!

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)