GRACE, A BETTER SOLUTION
Paul’s letters often bless his readers with “grace and mercy from God.” But I wonder if we understand the power of those words. Just what is grace and mercy? Here’s one easy way to explain the difference.
Mercy is not receiving what we deserve.
Grace is receiving what we don’t deserve.
God shows mercy by removing the death sentence we deserve.
God shows grace by giving eternal life that we don’t deserve.
It is by grace we are saved through our faith in Jesus Christ. But His grace is vital for every day living as well.
When I’m weak and tired, God’s grace provides me strength to go on. When I’m overwhelmed, His grace helps me endure. When I’m treated unfairly, God’s grace helps me to respond with a smile. His grace is just what I need! All the time!
One of the Hebrew definitions of grace is “to stoop in kindness to an inferior.” God stoops down to lift me up to His way of thinking. His ways are higher than ours. A note in my Bible says, “Human weakness provides the ideal opportunity for the display of divine power.”
Let’s consider a few scripture about grace in the New Testament, noticing the various ways in which it is described.
Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-8
1. How would you describe a thorn in the flesh? What was its purpose according to these two verses? How many times did Paul ask God to take it away?
Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
2. What is God’s response to Paul’s plea to remove his torment? Why is God’s grace a better solution to Paul’s problem than removing it?
Read Titus 2:11-12
3. What does the grace that brings salvation teach us? (Remember, our salvation should produce good works; good works do not produce salvation.)
Read Hebrews 4:16
4. What does grace allow us to do? Why is grace vital in our lives?
Read 2 Timothy 2:1
5. What does this verse say we are to do in grace?
One translation says this grace is found only in Christ Jesus. Grace provides strength. I’ve read that there are times we should ask God for some EMG. An extra-measure-of-grace might be just what we need for both difficult people and difficult circumstances. God stands by our side to provide everything we need for life. He just wants us to depend on Him. Ask God for an extra measure of grace when you need it. It’s often a better solution than you might imagine.
His grace is sufficient for every need. Grace is vital! Stop and think about that today.
From Orlando FL.
I always thought a thorn in the flesh was a sickness – this is the way Satan hits our lives and gets our minds off of the LORD – Paul ask God to take it away 3 times – sometimes you and I have to ask to have things and thoughts removed from our lives daily – the LORD is always so good to be there for us. The LORD was always there for Paul – told him HIS grace was sufficient for him – HIS grace is always sufficient for us also – the LORD gives us more strength to handle everything that comes at us in our lives. For we are always weak like Paul was in our distresses – HE tells us that HE is always strong and a great part of our lives daily. It teaches us that we should deny worldly lusts and ungodliness – we should always live righteously – godly and soberly in our world – We must show other people we are around just how the LORD lives and helps us in our lives. Grace in our lives helps us in our times of needs – the LORD is so good to each one of us in our lives – we must go before HIS throne each morning and ask for more grace for each day of our lives – we will obtain mercy and the LORD will be with us daily. We must always be strong in the Grace which the LORD give each one of us – I agree we must ask for extra measures of grace during each day – the LORD is always right beside us and will supply all of our needs and give us extra things in our lives which we did not ask for – the LORD is so good to us. Another great lesson – I love the times I spend with the LORD each morning – through HIS BIBLE reading and prayers. I just do not want to go through this life without the LORD in my life. Thanks Karen
Karen, once again, thank you for this study. Every time something happens that shakes my world, my greatest comfort is to realize God wasn’t caught off guard and I can lean on Him. I am so very, very grateful for His grace and His mercy.
To me, a thorn in the flesh is a continual annoyance of something specific…something that never seems to go away. And it keeps us reliant on God to fill us with the grace needed to handle that annoyance in a positive way instead of giving into the temptation to anger, complain, etc. By forcing us to deal with it instead or removing it for us, it teaches us patience and endurance and compassion or empathy for someone else who might be dealing with the same thorn. God’s grace teaches us to be self-controlled in a world where self-indulgence is pushed at every corner, and even taught to be an entitlement. Grace provides us mercy, and also empowers us with our own grace to handle difficult situations that we otherwise would have a giant FAIL if we tried to handle on our own. I have MANY times prayed that Jesus would help me to handle myself with grace when I wake up and can tell I have a grumpy day ahead of me, whether for hormonal reasons or whatever…there are just those days where I KNOW going in that I need HELP that day. And simply praying that not only ushers in the extra grace I need, but it also keeps it in the forefront of my mind when I want to snap, that the situation is not really as bad as it feels right then…that I’m just having an emotional day and need to reel it in rather than spraying all over everyone around me.