What does grace mean to you? How do you define grace? Do you think of grace as the opportunity to pay a bill a few days late without penalty? Do you define grace as unmerited favor? Have you considered the many things that come through the grace of God?
Banks or loan companies may grant a grace period for making the payment on a loan. Utility companies may also provide a few days grace to make a payment without penalty. Grace shown to someone, understanding rash statements when they are under duress.
God’s grace is much bigger than we often think. It is by his grace that we have oxygen to breath and are given one more day. It is by his grace that we can walk, talk, think, and eat. Everyday needs to experience life. Yet we often do not think of them as being gifts by God’s grace. We take them for granted. We make the assumption we will continue to have all of them.
The Apostle Paul lists both basic human actions and spiritual gifts given to us by God’s grace. He starts by stating we have been enriched in every way by God’s grace. The word “every” is like the word “all”—it encompasses our entire human existence and ability. Paul specifically calls out our ability to speak and knowledge we gain. He gives an example of speaking in the testimony of Christ and how it strengthens us.
Paul continues by speaking of spiritual gifts. He says the church in Corinth was not lacking in any gift. In other words, the church body had been given every spiritual gift they needed to accomplish God’s plan for them. This is why we often hear that each local church has been given the spiritual gifts they need to accomplish God’s plan. We are not to squander those gifts but put them to work, working alongside God to accomplish our mission.
I pray we all open our minds to God’s grace being much bigger than we think. I pray we recognize God’s grace in our daily living. I pray each one of us use our gifts to work alongside God. God’s grace is huge. See God’s grace daily. Use your gifts to work with God.
1 Corinthians 1:4-7 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Marty Pressey 