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Her beautifully crafted gown flowed gently to the palace floor. Her feet were adorned with delicately engraved sandals. Her hair fixed with the finest jewels, and her neck and wrists encased in costly gold. She stood before the king with nothing less and nothing more than what she was advised. It was out of her hands now, and yet the favor of God and the king were before her. Despite all the other women the king was able to choose from, “Chosen!” was the verdict Esther received. The kingdom was nothing she grasped for, but rather something that chose her.
Queen Esther’s plight to becoming queen is a lovely example of grace. Grace is not something we run after or something we earn based on our talents, abilities, or strategies. It is simply favor poured on our lives for a specific purpose. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:5).
Why is grace needed? Grace serves two purposes, 1) Salvation for eternal life and 2) to equip us to do God’s will upon the earth.
GRACE FOR SALVATION
In the New Testament, God’s grace was shown in more power and love than had ever been known or shown before. In Romans 5:15 we read that grace comes through Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ, grace for salvation does not exist. God’s gift of eternal life was absent until Christ’s work on the cross was completed. Jesus’ death on the Cross was God’s plan from before the world was created. Sin brought death, separation from God and wrath on mankind, but it was Jesus’ shed blood that erased all and God’s favor took its place. Without Jesus’ willingness to die for mankind, we would all be eternally lost without any hope. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 1:16) (emphasis added).
How do you know if God’s grace rests upon someone? Because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They believe that he is the Son of God and the work he did on the Cross as their finality to their salvation. Faith and grace work hand-in-hand with each other. It is grace alone that makes us righteous before God, but the backbone to God’s grace is faith in what Christ has done for us. When we have faith, our lifestyle will reflect this. Kindness, gentleness, love and mercy will all be lived out in our lives. James 2:20 states, “…that faith without works is dead?” When we walk in faith, due to God’s grace, we will obey Jesus’ words. When we do not live according to his words, we are not living by faith and therefore trampling on God’s grace.
GRACE FOR GOOD WORKS
In the book of Ephesians, Paul talks about God’s grace being administered to him in order to make the mystery of salvation known to the Gentiles (v.2-3). It was God’s favor upon him that chose Paul for such a responsibility. Remember it had nothing to do with his righteousness. It was Paul that was persecuting Christians in each city; and yet, God still chose to pour his grace on him and use him in an important mission.
There are many examples of God’s grace (favor) being on someone’s life. In fact, it seems like God uses the most unlikely candidates to bring His will into being. Like I mentioned before, Esther was shown favor in order to save the Jews from an untimely death (Esther 2:15). Mary, the mother of Jesus was “highly favored” by God and brought the Savior into the world (Luke 1:28). Moses found favor in God’s eyes and set a whole nation free from bondage (Exodus 33:12). David found favor in God’s eyes, which allowed him to govern God’s people (1 Samuel 16:12).
God’s grace is nothing to be taken lightly. It is a gift from God that we are to cherish deeply. Apart from God’s grace in our lives, we would be lost, without hope and purpose. God’s grace equips and enables us to fulfill our purposes in Christ Jesus, for without him, we can do nothing.
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