Equipped For Growth (5)

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  (1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV)

What is grace and what does grace have to do with life with God in recovery?   We often hear about the grace of God poured out on us and yet somehow we don’t stop to understand what grace really is.   The dictionary definition of the word grace includes terms such as:  1) Goodwill.   2) The act of showing favour.   3) Mercy.   4) The love of God towards man.  Each of these definitions tells us that grace is not earned.    Grace is a gift given without any cost to the recipient.   Grace is solely given for the benefit of the recipient.   The recipient’s part is simply to receive or reject the grace being offered by the one who extends it.  

Long, long ago he (God) decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.  (Ephesians 1:5-6 MSG)

Some of us haven’t yet recognized the giving of grace by our loving Heavenly Father.   God sent His only son Jesus into the world to die for our sins.   Jesus didn’t come into this world in human flesh to condemn humans for the sinful, disobedient, polluted ways that they were living.   He came into the world to die for our sin.  He came to give us fullness of joy in this life.   He came to give us the gift of everlasting life with Him. He went back to heaven to prepare a place for us.    He said He would come back for us.   When we accept God’s gracious gift of Jesus for our sin, God lavishes grace upon us to strengthen and help us stand firm in Christ-like ways.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV)

God anoints us. He sets His seal of ownership on us and puts His Holy Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing everything that He has promised us in the Bible.   That sounds like God is giving grace to each one of us beyond all we could ask for or even think about, that truly is abundant grace.    Did I do anything to deserve this?  Did you?   Our part, when we hear about Jesus, is to accept or reject the grace that God is offering us.  If we accept the grace that God is offering us, then we are truly equipped for growth and truly grow in this new life with God in recovery.

Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29 NASB)

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