“Grace.” What does that even mean? I have heard it explained before as, “The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.”

“Grow in Grace” are the words printed on a wall hanging in our nursery.  As I was enjoying some extra snuggles this morning, rocking our new baby Matthew, I couldn’t help but reflect on these words. We chose to put this in his room because it is our prayer for him, that he would “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”(from 2 Peter 3:18) But realistically, he can’t even read, so inevitably it’s there for me! Today, while working on my Bible Study homework I began to take a rabbit trail and think about God’s grace; what that means, and what that looks like for me as I see these words multiple times a day.  It is a constant reminder for me to check my own heart.  Am I being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit?  Am I having extra grace with my kids as God does with me? Is there any hidden sin in my thoughts or actions that I need to confess and make a change so that I’m not hindering my children or others around me from having hearts that are tender and sensitive to God and His leading?

I have continued thinking on this concept the entire rest of the summer and as God would have it, the idea of grace was brought up again last week in our Bible Study.  This time the author defined it as, “His undeserved help to accomplish what pleases Him.” (Jim Berg, Changed into His Image)

The word “grace” appears in the Bible over and over again!  Since God has chosen to use this word so many times in His Word, then I feel it is my responsibility to know its meaning.  Here are a few of the verses I found on grace.

Ezra 9:8

⁸ And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

Because of their sin, the Jews did not deserve this remnant, but God is gracious! Do I hold a grudge when I feel that I am wronged and sinned against, or do I respond with grace as God would?

Esther 2:17

¹⁷ And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Here Esther is obtaining grace and favor from the king, not from God.  Grace is not only shown to us from God, but is something we can show others.  It can, and should be, a characteristic of a follower of Christ.  Am I showing grace to those around me?

Psalm 84:11

¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

This is a picture of God’s protection and provision for those that love Him. We are all guilty of sin before God, but when God grants forgiveness we become blameless in His sight. He is so gracious in giving us the forgiveness we do not deserve.

1 Corinthians 15:10

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Here Paul is recalling how he persecuted the church and doesn’t even deserve to be called an apostle. Although he worked hard at the things he did, Paul would not have accomplished anything without God. Am I relying on my own strength to get through each day or strength from the Lord?  He is gracious! He will always give me enough time and strength to accomplish the things HE has for me each day (not necessarily the things I have for me each day). I need to remind myself of this often as it is easy for me to over commit and be too busy. I need to take each activity to the Lord in prayer before committing.  I have written out my core values.  They are things such as: encouraging/cultivating spiritual growth, spending time together as a family, building relationships with those around us…  I am learning to sift our activities through my “core values” and if it doesn’t line up with any of these it really is ok to say no! In fact, it’s ok to say no even if it does fall in line with these. That’s why it’s important to take our day to day, sometimes minute to minute things to the Lord in prayer.

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

“In salvation [through faith], men who deserve hell obtain heaven. This cannot be explained apart from God’s grace. …We need to remember that we are saved, given the Holy Spirit, and allowed to serve God—by His grace.” (Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible)

2 Peter 3:18

¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

To “grow” is continual and requires an action. Am I diligent, disciplined and prioritizing the things in my life so that I am “growing in grace and knowledge?”  If not, it will be hard for my children to grow in grace and knowledge. If I am continually “growing” I will naturally be able pour into the lives of my children the truths of God that I myself am learning.  “Nobody automatically drifts into spiritual growth and stability, but anybody can drift out of dedication and growth.” (Warren Wiersbe)

Each of these verses speaks of an unmerited favor that people are given from God or others.  It is through the grace of God that we are saved and sanctified as we mature in our faith. Colossians 3:16 gives specific ways in which we can “grow in grace,” and our sanctification.  “¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”