The Manifestation of Grace

Yesterday I gave one the definition of grace: “God’s activity in our lives.”  Today I want to explore how grace manifests itself in our own life.  In our physical being!  It is not at all easy to explain;  because grace is not tangible.  Perceptible only through the senses!  

In the Hebrew and Greek definition of grace is: “A phenomenon, or feeling, of joy.  Which is a culmination of being that raises no problems as such and that strains beyond itself…faith brings this phenomenon.  It is the fruit of the Spirit.”

The one clear place that I have consistently  witnessed grace is at the point of the death of a loved one.  A time when the person left finds strength to deal with their loss. It is a time when they feel that they “can’t handle it.”  “I can’t do this!”  A time when all they want to do is go away  and cry.  And yet they don’t!  And they can do it!  And, they do!  And after the funeral they are amazed at themselves for doing it so well.  Whatever that means!  That is the phenomenon of grace!  God’s very active presence working!  No!  It is no joyous!  But grace doesn’t always manifest itself in a  sense of joy.  

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.(1 Corinthians 1:3-9)

Check out verse 4,5 and 8. 

 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 

5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind

 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

There is something in verse 8 that give me a feeling of relief.  Read it again and listen to what this really is saying.  

Now let me hear what you hear.

When we have great confidence in the activity and promises of God/Jesus.  There is a sense in us that no matter what we are faced with, good or not-so-good, in the long run it will be okay.  Somehow you know that the God who brought order our of the chaos of nothingness in the beginning.  Will bring order to your present concern. 

It is truly the gift of faith!  

It is an amazingly extraordinary phenomenon!