Sunday Writing... 7-15-18... "G.R.A.C.E."

Good morning!

In today's writing we learn about the mnemonic for G.R.A.C.E. which is God's Riches At Christ's Expense.  Read more below about what God's riches are, and how we receive them.  May we all share that grace with others.

Grace-filled Blessings to you,
Jan and Corinne

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Today's Devotional:

G.R.A.C.E.

by

Jan Andersen

It has been said that GRACE can be defined by its own letters as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  There is so much meaning wrapped up into this mnemonic. 

First, we have “God’s Riches.”  The greatest thing about grace is that we receive God’s never-ending, all-encompassing, life-giving forgiveness of all of our sins, no matter how big or how many or how frequently repeated.  And forgiveness means that we will have everlasting life in heaven with God, a glorious place of never-ending joy and praise.  As long as we maintain a truly repentant heart, desiring to change our ways, and not rejecting this amazing free gift, God’s riches of forgiveness and salvation remain ours!

Then there is the phrase “At Christ’s Expense.”  That seems to be clear and straight forward for a Christian.  Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross.  And not just an easy death, but all the torture, physical and mental, leading up to it, heaped upon the one person who is both God and man and lived a perfect life and absolutely did not deserve to pay the price for sin - something he never even did!   

We need to remember that this means we can do nothing - absolutely nothing - to earn God’s richest blessing of forgiveness.  We cannot earn our way into heaven by being a “good Christian” through any form of good works, charity, prayers, giving offerings and tithes, attending church, obeying the commandments, etc.  It has already been earned by Christ on the Cross.  Otherwise, his death would have been in vain.  Instead, we desire to do those things out of our great thankfulness for this free gift that we have already been given.

Hence, it was at Christ’s expense that we receive God’s riches of absolute forgiveness and eternal life in heaven.  We are saved by grace through faith.  G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Ephesians 1:7-8 ESV  In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. 

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for giving us salvation by grace through faith in Christ, Jesus, your Son, whose death on the cross and resurrection into heaven paid for our sins and earned us this free gift.  Help us to remember this great sacrifice and all that it means, so that we might always be grateful and serve you in thanks and praise.  May our lives be a witness to the world.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.    

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Song:

GRACE ALONE

Kristina Hamilton/Maranatha

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers:

Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,   

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Collette Phillips, Cathy Friberg, and  Corinne Mustafa

Occasional Contributors:

Kathy Bireley,  Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,

Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns

Glenna Williamson,  Shelly Keith, Amie Spruiell,

Lisabeth Lipp,  and Nandita Bhatnagar