People need the grace of God. I see it in people's eyes everywhere I go. I notice it in their gestures as they walk.
I was on an adventurous myPhotoWalk PhotoShoot at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, for my devotional photography book entitled The Story of Your Life. And I was interested to just capture images of people. And I came upon a scene that truly stood out to me. A vendor with her rolling kiosk walking against the stream through the mass of people coming her way — and her sign advertising something to do with "luck."
People don't need luck. They need grace — God's grace.
Joseph Cooke, in his book, Celebration of Grace, describes grace as "nothing more or less than the face that love wears when it meets imperfection, weakness, failure, sin. Grace is what love is and does when it meets the sinful and the undeserving."
According to Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9, grace is how we are saved — "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
I wrote all about grace in my A Devotional Journey book, A Woman's Walk In Grace —
Grace is the free, unmerited favor of God. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. Grace is at the heart of all God does toward you, for you, and in you. Grace finds you, saves you, and keeps you. Grace gives you everything you need, more than you could ever want, and places you in an eternal, secure, favorable position forever…God is the God of all grace. He wants to shower you with every grace-filled gift you need to grow—His provision for your needs, His perspective for your circumstances, and His presence for your journey from time to eternity. And so the most important aspect of grace is learning to receive all the gifts God's grace-filled heart gives you…What an eye-opening day when we discover that God is the initiator who seeks us out and extends the gift of His grace.
Catherine Martin in A Woman's Walk In Grace
We need to learn to receive God's grace, then give it away to others.
Everywhere you go, look for an opportunity to give more than what people expect or feel they deserve. And you will discover surprise on their faces when they are touched by God's grace. They didn't expect it and in many cases, it may be their first experience of grace.
One of my greatest joys in Quiet Time Ministries is writing quiet time studies that highlight the beauty of God — who He is, what He does, and what He says. Each study is a journey of discovery as our eyes are opened to the fact that God is more than we could have imagined and He is a God of grace. As Jeremiah discovered, "The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning" (Lamentations 3:23-24 NLT).
Paul was filled with a desire to give God's grace away to others. His words in Acts 20:24 inspire me —
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts 20:24
Because Paul wanted to tell others about the wonderful grace of God, he told them about the Lord Jesus Christ — that He died on the cross for their sins and now offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Often when I speak to large groups, I give others an opportunity to trust Christ as Savior by asking them to pray to Him: Lord Jesus I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I ask You now to come into my life, forgive my sins, and make me the person You want me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I look at every person I meet as an appointment from God and an opportunity to give away His grace.
So today, dear friend, will you receive God's grace? And then, will you join in the work of "telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God"?
Lord, today we thank You for Your grace. Oh how we need Your grace every day of our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Blessings ♡ Grace
