Daily Journal: 23 October

The Character

and Work of Grace

What defines grace? Grace is defined as courteous good will in OXFORD LANGUAGES.

When I look at someone who exhibits grace I see someone who allows for other people’s idiosyncrasies, differences and roles; someone who carries humility without loss of strength or dignity; someone who is insightful and nonjudgmental; someone who demonstrates genuine, active kindness; someone who carries conviction and is able to step past themselves to understand and serve others for the sake of another’s welfare.

That’s a big bucket list. We recognise grace in others and ourselves both when it is present and when it is lacking.

1 Peter 5:6 (AMP)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honour in His service] at the appropriate time,

Grace is a beautiful character trait that is willing to set aside self and leads to beautiful fruit and beautiful works.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

God’s grace towards each one of us lays on our hearts something to deliver for Him, enables us to work at it, and establishes us in it. Along the way we may be obstructed for a time, but let’s not give up.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

God’s grace leads us into more capacity to extend grace.