Grace Is For Everyone – Ephesians 2:4-9

4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 

7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, to us in Christ Jesus. expressed in His kindness 

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

- Ephesians 2:4-9

Grace Is For Everyone

Do you ever think about Grace?   God's Grace in particular?  It's something I've been thinking a lot about lately.  I still have trouble sometimes, trying to rationalize why God sent Grace my way.  I mean, I am nothing - and I certainly don't deserve it - especially back before I was first saved . . . I REALLY didn't deserve it then, but He chose to gift it to me anyway.  He still gifts it my way, every second, of every moment, of every day.

I am so humbled and so in awe of how God continues to work in my life, and I know that I'll never be able to justify it.  I can however, "gift" Grace to someone else.  I can choose to show grace throughout my day to those who don't know the love of our Father - and even to those who do.  Sometimes I forget that I am supposed to reflect His Love to those around us.  A BIG part of that love is Grace.

Believe me, I know how difficult it can be.  That so-and-so zipping in and out of traffic on the freeway; the guy who took the parking place - even though it was clearly meant for someone else;  the kid in the car who has his sub-woofer thumping hip-hop so loud that it is shaking everyone else's car;  the girl gabbing on-and-on about absolutely nothing so that everyone on the bus is now a part of her conversation;  the coworker who is not pulling their weight;  the fast-food clerk who just can't seem to get the order right; the inconsiderate person who brought their crying baby to the movie theater...and on-and-on the list goes.  All those people who annoy us and make our lives a little less "convenient" - yep, they deserve grace too.

I know I have been the person stealing a parking spot, or playing the stereo too loud, or doing something to annoy someone else, so I really don't have a right to complain . . . but I do.  I do it way too often sometimes.  The Lord has really shown me that I need to be less annoyed with people, and start showing them Grace and Love and Kindness.  I need to always be mindful that I am His child ONLY because He FIRST loved me.  I am, and always will be, undeserving of our Father's Love, and the Grace He so freely gives me, and I have no right to treat anyone as if I hold some sort of position over them.  I am nothing, therefore I should be gracious to all.

Prayer

Father, please forgive my ungrateful heart.  Thank You for reminding me that You are the reason for the very breath and life in me.  Thank You for showing me that the best way to reflect who You are is to show Grace and Mercy and Kindness and Love to those around me.  I pray that I can start today to not show impatience, or be annoyed, or pass judgment on anyone and I ask for the help of Your Holy Spirit because on my own, I know that I will fail.  But Lord, with Your help I can do anything!

Have a blessed day everyone!

- Richard

13 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free - signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 

14 This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. 

- Ephesians 1: 13-14

Signed - Sealed - Delivered!

Have you ever had to get anything ready for shipping?  Perhaps a special Christmas gift that is going cross country?  You make sure that the contents are securely packed and protected with either styrofoam peanuts or bubble-wrap or some other form of protection.  You take extra care in filling out the shipping form, checking the address 2 or 3 times to make sure you got it right - then you take care to make sure it is sealed properly so that no one can tamper with  it . . . and then after paying for the extra insurance, you hand it over to the delivery service.  After getting the tracking number you daily check the package's progress until it arrives safely at its destination.  All this just for a package!

Not UPS, FedEx, DHS, USPS nor anyone else can even come close to the care and security that our Father and Savior have taken in making sure that you get to heaven.  He put you in the perfect package to make the life-long journey;  He protected you with the Holy Spirit, who wraps Himself around you every day, and every step, and every breath, so that you make it through to your final destination;  He sealed it with His blood so that no one and no "thing" can destroy you.  He did such a great job that your place in heaven is already prepared and waiting for your arrival - it's not a question of if you will arrive, but when.

So take heart - know that you are on your way!  Have confidence that as long as you keep your eyes on Him, our Lord and Savior will not allow the enemy to steal your joy.  Keep looking towards heaven and keep walking in your eternal tennis shoes;  keep singing praises to our Father and proclaiming His unconditional Love to everyone you meet;  keep sharing your heart with Him and letting Him be a part of your daily walk;  keep on living because you are instrumental in bringing others into the kingdom.  He wants to use you by letting others see His light shining through you - they will be drawn to you like moths to a flame  because the love of Christ pours out of you and everything you do.  You have been purchased and your destination has been sealed and signed for - and your destination is guaranteed!

Prayer

Father I thank You for choosing me to share Your kingdom with.  What a joy it is to know that I will be in Your presence and praising You as we stroll through streets of gold and fields of silk and pearls.  Your love humbles me and I know that if I can show someone just a portion of Your grace and forgiveness that they will be joining us in paradise.  Help me Lord to keep my eyes fixed on you and to not focus on the daily problems that will always be a part of this life - I know that You make everything better and that my problems are only temporary.  Thank You Lord!

Have a blessed day my Brothers!

-Richard