When I looked up the definition of grace it states that grace is the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. Unmerited means not deserved. God has granted us free salvation and love that we do not deserve. We can't earn it or buy it. It's absolutely free.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Our relationship with God is saturated in grace! This grace isn't based on our performance, it is based on God's absolute goodness. There is nothing that can separate us from God!
Romans 8:38-39 (AMP)
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There are many many times I feel unworthy of this grace. But how I feel doesn't change His grace or how He sees me. He sees me through what Jesus did on the cross.
Imagine this.... When I first presented myself to God, I was was wearing filthy clothes (my sins). I asked Jesus to forgive me and cleanse me, and He put His robe on me to cover my clothes. Now, God doesn't see my filthy clothes, He sees Jesus' perfect robe.
Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)
10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
It is impossible for God to stop loving us. He wants us to soak in His grace. When meat is soaked in a marinade. It can't become 'un-soaked'. It takes on the flavors of the marinade. It becomes more tender. That's what happens when we soak in God's grace. We take on the character of God, we become more tender to His presence and loving towards others.
Ephesians 1:4-6 (NLT)
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
Remember this is a free gift! Open it! Soak in it!
Blessings,
Lori
Thank you for your Sunday Drive devotionals!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful that they bless you!
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