Yesterday, my six-year-old came home and asked me what ‘grace’ was.  He said he had a girl in his class named Grace and that she was nice, so he was thinking that was what it meant.  Talk about warm my heart…precious boy!

Of course, his teacher had given the definition during school, but he had forgotten…not so precious.

Anyway, I told him that my definition of grace was when someone forgave you for doing something wrong even when you didn’t deserve the forgiveness.

I then said something about ‘graceful’ meaning floating prettily through the air and that’s when I think I started to ramble and his eye’s glazed over.  But, I’m pretty sure that was the gist of my explanation.

As the word-freak that I am, today I’ve googled the definition of grace and found that it is “(in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.”

I kind of like what my first grader said…grace means when someone is just nice.

We can’t earn grace.  It just is.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6

The real question is am I nice to others?  Do I extend to them the grace that I’ve received from God?  Do I give them favor even when they don’t deserve it?

Awww, CRIMENY!  I hate the hard questions…especially when I don’t like the answers!!

We live in a world that continues to tell us to harbor resentments, get our revenge and NEVER forgive someone that really hurts us.

Stop the madness!!!  Swallow the tongue.  Tame the pride and just shut it!

The world is NOT the example of Christ!

Jesus Christ loved sinners.  He forgave those who didn’t deserve it and he loved people who hated him!  Those same people not only hated him, but they beat him, whipped him, spit on him, called him names, and KILLED him.

But what did Jesus do?  He extended grace!!!!

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34

Think about it.  You and I are sinners no matter what kind of sin we’ve committed and none of us are better than the next.

So…bickering over who is right and who is wrong is placing the focus on the WRONG THING.

Instead we should:

1. Feed the poor.
2. Take care of the needy.
3. Care for the hurting.
4. Love the lost and the lonely.
5. BE NICE TO OTHERS.

It’s these simple actions that mean the most!  Just being nice to others will please God and make the world a better place.

Own it!!  Accept God’s grace!  AND do something with it!!!

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 15:17 – Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.