Rom.1:7 – to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This was the foundation of everything Paul preached, the grace of God revealed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is available and abundant to all who receive His word. What is the grace of God? Many have a partial understanding of grace seeing it as some sort of covering for our sins. Even though grace washes away our sin it also does so much more. This grace gives us access to the Lord on a continual basis. It is out of this access to Him that we are blessed. Like the Lord told Abraham, “every place you put your feet I will give to you”. He also told Abraham that he would be blessed to be a blessing to every family on the earth. Because of the grace of God to each of us through the gospel this blessing rests on us too. Our lives are blessed, our marriages are blessed, our families are blessed, our church is blessed. Now don’t get this wrong, these blessings come to us by faith. In other words we have to possess all of the blessings of God by appropriating His promises by faith. Here is how the CWSB Dictionary describes this grace to you.
“Grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor…..God’s grace affects man’s sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy and thankfulness to him. It changes the individual to a new creature without destroying his individuality.”
Recently I was laying asleep at night and the favor of God I have seen in every aspect of my life became apparent to me. I realized that the Lord has blessed my marriage, my children, my health, my ministry; I could say He has blessed me infinitely beyond measure throughout my entire Christian life. What was my response to that? I was humbled and convicted for being ungrateful. He opened my eyes that sleepless night to His favor on my life, I saw in that dark night the incredible light of His favor in each part of my life. Now, I just want to walk in humility and gratitude.