What did it cost God to extend grace?

His only Son.

1 John 4:9 KJV — In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

God is a good judge.

He looked at our sins and pronounced us guilty.

Nehemiah 9:33 NKJV — However You are just in all that has befallen us; For You have dealt faithfully, But we have done wickedly.

The punishment He warned us about in the Garden of Eden, we chose.

Genesis 2:16-17NKJV — And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

He didn’t leave us to our condemnation.

From the time we first sinned, God had a plan to extend grace.

Genesis 3:15bNKJV — “…He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

He’d send His son to die in our place.

And those who believe on Jesus Christ will be saved.

John 3:18 KJV — He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

For those who have accepted salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, it is cherished and extremely valuable.

May we never forget what Christ paid to extend the incredible gift nor allow this life to cheapen the truth of it’s worth.

God paid the highest price to extend us grace and forgive our sins that we might not be condemned.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for Your faithfulness to do whatever was required to extend us grace. Lord Jesus, may we never become callous to Your incredible gift nor cheapen the value by intentionally ignoring You and Your Word. Lord, please help us to be purposeful, mindful of the gift, grateful for Your sacrifice, and humbled by what our sins cost You. Lord, You suffered and died, then rose again, defeating sin and death forever! Thank You! What an awesome God You are! What a wonderful gift we have through Your sacrifice! Lord Jesus, let the whole World look on Him whom they have pierced and recognize the truth. Lord Jesus, You are worthy of praise, honor, and glory! Amen.

Grace like rain…

Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV — “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God gives us direction in His Word for life and how to live.

Here He instructs us on how to love and give grace.

It’s like the rain, it should fall on everyone.

God makes it clear, we are to remember His grace for us and to extend it to others.

Psalm 145:9 KJV — The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Of course, like all things God calls us to do, it comes with wisdom and discernment.

Matthew 7:6 NKJV — “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Therefore, while walking in God’s grace and mercy, we treasure it for what it is, not trampling or shredding the priceless gift of God: salvation through Jesus Christ.

We also have the privilege to extend the same grace we enjoy to those around us, not exposing others or ourselves to evil and passing it off as good, but instead calling out evil and loving the sinner whose life is being strangled by that same evil.

Because true love, as exampled in Christ Jesus, reaches out to the sinner.

Romans 5:8 KJV — But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Talk about amazing, costly grace!

Jesus paid a high price to extend it to us.

For those of us who enjoy this grace, may we be quick to share it.

God’s grace showered upon us is truly a wonderful blessing.

John 1:17 KJV — For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your awesome gift of grace and mercy. How small is my understanding of what a costly gift it is, but I humbly thank You for it. Lord Jesus, please help me to remain humble before You and to remember that mankind does not see the heart, only You can. It is against the pride ridden nature of my sinful heart to want to extend grace to others, but You call me to love the same as You do. Please, Lord, help me to walk in this and continue to teach my heart Your ways. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and love. Thank You for this new day in which to learn more about loving as You do. I love You, Jesus. Amen.