| What is Grace? | | | | Christmas - you give and receive gifts. |
| Thousands of people search for the answer to this | | | | The thing with the gift of God is - there's nothing else |
| question. | | | | to be done. That gift takes care of everything. Nothing |
| In Christian churches there are references made to | | | | you can do will add to it's effect or take away from it. |
| grace. Sermons are preached around grace and still | | | | In fact anything you do to make it more than it is |
| people feel confused. | | | | devalues the gift. It may even become the equivalent |
| I'm going to give you a grace definition. | | | | of rejecting the gift. |
| You should wonder where I got this definition - (I would | | | | We as humans struggle with accepting the Gift of |
| - if I were reading this article). | | | | God because we feel obligated to return something. |
| I'll tell you that it came to me after nearly a year of | | | | What happens is that we are so overcome with a |
| meditation and asking for an understanding of grace. I | | | | sense of obligation that we consume our lives with |
| have no doubt it came from God to me. | | | | giving back to God - the creator of all who needs |
| Now you can decide for yourself if my definition is | | | | nothing - not even whatever it is we strive to give |
| relevant to you. | | | | back. |
| It's simple. The ramifications are enormous. | | | | What happens when you graciously receive the Gift |
| Without further discussion here it is: | | | | and rest in the provision of it you experience a change |
| God gave you and I His Son. When you and I accept | | | | in your life that requires no effort on your part. You |
| that Gift our sin is forgiven and we are reconciled to | | | | receive an inward work. A renewing of your mind. A |
| God. | | | | change of heart. Power in your life. These are the |
| The key to understanding grace is in the nature of a | | | | extra benefits. |
| gift. | | | | You cannot manufacture them. You cannot duplicate |
| When a gift is given there are two responses | | | | them. All the years of reading and studying the bible, |
| available. Either it is accepted or it is rejected. | | | | church attendance, etc. will not produce this. |
| If it is accepted there is often gratitude expressed. In | | | | Acceptance of the Gift will. It is the ONLY thing that |
| human circles a gift requires a gift - right? Just like | | | | will. |