A Christmas Series: The Gift of Grace

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, NIV)

Christmas is only days away. And even though this marks the end of our series, I pray all 3 gifts (forgiveness, encouragement, and grace) continue to impact our lives in Christ. 

I chose gifts money cannot buy, yet are very valuable. In fact, these gifts are priceless. Also, I spent time asking the Lord which gifts to highlight. 

But this week, instead of waiting on God, I began researching an entirely different gift. Because I felt grace is widely discussed and covered.

Then, the Lord captured my attention when He whispered to my heart: 

Karen, grace is the greatest gift, a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) that came down from Me to you as my Son the first Christmas.

'Grace is the greatest gift, a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) that came down from Me to you as my Son the first Christmas.' ~ God #grace #christmasgifts Share on X

Grace Defined

(1.) Google defines grace as “courteous goodwill.” So I find it interesting how grace plays a major role in the Christmas story along with goodwill (desire to do good to others, act of kindness, charitable gift). 

An angel announced the Savior’s birth to shepherds, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14, NKJV, emphasis mine) 

The Savior embodies God’s grace and desire to do good to us and offer us kindness. And Jesus Christ remains the greatest act of charity (spiritually needy) known to mankind.

(2.) Grace in Christianity is “the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it…the favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God.”

(3.) Maybe you’ve heard it defined as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. When we think about the love and mercy and favor underserved by us, yet freely given to us through Christ, we see grace as the most wonderful gift ever given. 

(4.) Grace came in the form of a baby in Bethlehem. Grace grew into a man who spoke about God’s Kingdom and performed miracles. And Grace died on Calvary’s cross, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Read my blog article, The First Breath of Grace.

Grace came in the form of a baby in Bethlehem, grew into a man who spoke about God’s Kingdom and performed miracles. Grace died on Calvary’s cross, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. #grace Share on X

Grace Extended 

Because God extended, and continues to extend grace to us, we extend it to each other.

(1.) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)

(2.) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

(3.) “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33) “And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many…followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.” (Acts 13:43)

(4.) “To love God is to cooperate with His grace. And since I’m so very aware of my own need for grace, I must be willing to freely give it away.” (Lysa Terkeurst)

(5.) “Grace releases and affirms. It doesn’t smother. Grace values the dignity of individuals. It doesn’t destroy. Grace supports and encourages. It isn’t jealous or suspicious.” (Charles Swindoll)

Amazing Grace

God extended amazing grace to us at such a high price…His Son. 

(1.) “Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” (John Newton)

(2.) “Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. And grace is power, not just pardon.” (John Piper)

(3.) “Grace needs to be the air we breathe, the atmosphere we live in, whether in church or in the home.” (Allen Snapp)

(4.) “We are born broken. We live mending. The grace of God is the glue.” (Eugene O’Neill)

Just like our first 2 gifts, forgiveness and encouragement, grace is the gift that keeps on giving.

When we reflect on all we know about grace, we conclude it’s a great gift to receive and give. While it may not be under our tree, we choose to wrap it in love and humbly offer it this Christmas and year-round.

Merry Christmas! No blog post next week, see you January 2, 2020.

*All Scripture ESV unless noted.

*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:

Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Kingdom Bloggers/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Abounding Grace/Welcome Heart/Recharge Wednesday/Porch Stories/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Sitting Among Friends/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Fresh Market Friday/Faith On Fire/Dance With Jesus and Faith and Friends.

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© 2019 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved