The Gift of Grace
KEENE, TEX. – Who in your life gives the best gifts? Think about your parents, grandparents, best friend or spouse. Do you have a person in mind who knows exactly the right gift for every occasion? I have a friend who knows how to give gifts that are meaningful and beautiful. She is an expert at selecting, wrapping and presenting the perfect gift. Each time I receive a gift from her, regardless of what it is, I feel loved.
This time of year provides an opportunity to reflect on the greatest gift given to mankind. God knew that the world needed a savior, and He knew that this gift would have to be delivered in a specific way. The gift of Jesus Christ, born into this world in the humblest of circumstances, for the purpose of our salvation, full of grace, is the greatest love story ever told. A love story where the recipient of this great gift is each one of us!
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” John 1:14, 16.
The gift of grace arrived when Jesus Christ was born, but His purpose on this earth would not be complete until He made the sacrifice of His life on our behalf. The death of Jesus demonstrated the depth of His love and served as the fulfillment of a promise that gives us access to eternal life. What do we have to do? Simply accept the gift.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1, 2.
The truth is, the greatest gift is neither one we can ever earn, nor one we deserve, it is the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Grasping the magnitude of this gift changes how I want to live.
If God loved me enough to send Jesus Christ in human form to sacrifice His life to cover my sins, then what choice do I have other than to extend the grace of God’s love to anyone in my path? This is not an easy task, because to truly extend grace, I must also admit that I have a need for grace to be extended to me. This puts me in a vulnerable position. I want to protect myself, and it doesn’t feel powerful to need grace. However, when I understand that my justification is through faith, then I can boast, not in myself, but in the glory of God who is the Giver of the gift of grace. A gift wrapped and presented perfectly for each of us.
By Ana Patterson, President
