How do YOU view ‘gifts’? Especially gifts that come from the Father’s grace and mercy? Then again… all gifts come from Him. I know I’ve written about Grace before. However, I also believe that we grow in our perception, understanding of spiritual matters. These verses in Ephesians 2:8-10, AMP somehow just jumped out at me. I know that it is by faith that we accept Jesus as our Lord, but have you ever considered that it was the Father’s Grace that facilitated our faith?
“For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
It isn’t our ‘good works’ that save us but good works flow from us as a result a demonstration that we have been saved. It’s like the Lord knew we, as well as others, needed the demonstration to prove the status. Yes?
It may be that when we begin learning about the Lord: Who He is, What He does, and How He goes about it, that His grace may be the second greatest gift He gives us. Why? Because it’s how we begin to grow in understanding about His giftS of grace. We also see how the gifts that He gives all of us blend and work together for our/everyone’s best. One of my personal favorite scriptures, when we discover His Grace, is found in Ephesians 2:10. Look at what it tells us again:
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
This verse teaches a number of lessons:
- HIS workmanship… created in Christ Jesus
qualities: reborn, transformed, renewed, ready - To be honest… I like to be considered a ‘work of art’, and this says that
we all are considered in this way - Good works… prepared beforehand
I also like the ‘for us’ because that says each of us has a special work to do - As WE walk in them then the good life He prepared is available.
When we take the time to not just read, but study what is being said, that we can arrive at understandings. Those 4 points related to Ephesians 2:10 are not just words, they begin to provide a solid foundation to who we are, why we are, what we can do, and what the fruitfulness will look like. We are only beginning the discovery of grace… and that is only 1 verse in the Bible.
Grace is one of those ‘big words’ that we sometimes only slide over. Grace, however, manifests itself in far more than we realize. Do you have a good definition that’s in operation in your life? Most of the time, we see the definition that grace is God’s unmerited favor. So what does that mean… and what and why is this important for us?
I discovered the following that I would like to share, Paul Zahl’s definition:
“Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable…. The cliché definition of grace is “unconditional love.” It is a true cliché, for it is a good description of the thing. Let’s go a little further, though. Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the lover. Grace is irrational in the sense that it has nothing to do with weights and measures. It has nothing to do with my intrinsic qualities or so-called “gifts” (whatever they may be). It reflects a decision on the part of the giver, the one who loves, in relation to the receiver, the one who is loved, that negates any qualifications the receiver may personally hold…. Grace is one-way love.”
I especially like: Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. But, at least for me, it is a place of rest, a place of refuge where I can catch my breath knowing that when I return to my world I will be at peace – prepared, not alone, and empowered. In this place of sanctuary I am renewed and I can become His Ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). When being the best me I can be is manifested, I am His workmanship… because of His Grace. His workmanship is only one of the gifts of His Grace. Learning about grace never ends.
