As we continue looking at the character traits of God; the fruits of the Spirit, grace is next on the list. Grace is the second most important character trait of God next to love. Because God loved us He demonstrated that love through grace. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What exactly is grace? Grace is unmerited favor. Huh? It needs a little breaking down. Maybe it is a little easier to explain what grace isn’t. You’re driving down the highway and a car puts their blinker on to move into your lane. Grace is lifting and giving them space.

Maybe a racing illustration is better. Yellow is out, get into single file and the race officials can sort out the line-up. Grace is getting into single file and letting the officials sort it out. When you refuse and ride around side-by-side that would indicate a lack of grace.

When we refuse to extend grace to each other we create an atmosphere of tension, anger, anxiety and animosity. None of those things reflect the character of God. When we extend grace we are putting control and authority back into the hands it belongs in, God’s. We trust Him to take care of us and provide for us. When we take things into our own hands we tend to mess them up, being gracious is not easy for us.

One of the benefits of being gracious is peace. You see when we relinquish control over  the circumstances that surround us to the only one who really has control over them we can rest in the peace that God has things under control.

Easy, right? No, we struggle with letting things happen. We have a desire to make things happen! We control our destiny and we don’t care how many people we have to run over to accomplish it.

Letting things happen doesn’t mean not being purposeful in accomplishing things, having a vision and working toward a goal. Being gracious doesn’t mean being lazy. We need to have direction and a goal. We need to be focused and working toward that. We don’t need to run people over, cut people down and push them out of the way to get there.

1Corinthians 15:10, nlt; But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me–and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

God’s grace allows us to make every effort to please Him. Grace allows us to fail, be forgiven, restores and placed back on the right track. We need to demonstrate the same grace toward others. The key is to do so without strings attached. You know, if you do this I’ll like you and be nice to you. No, we need to be gracious first without an agenda.

You will soon find grace doesn’t just happen. We need to practice it, being conscious of it and make an effort to be gracious to others. It is a good character trait worth pursuing and perfecting. The day graciousness is our first choice is the day we start to understand what God has done for us through Christ.

Amen.

 

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.