July 30.04: Light for the Day - "Grace"

-- Ephesians 1:7,8
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s Grace
8 He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
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There is nothing but God's grace.
We walk upon it; we breathe it; we live and die by it; it makes the nails and axles of the universe. 
-- Robert Louis Stevenson

Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.
-- John Stott

Grace is always given to those ready to give thanks for it.
-- Thomas A Kempis

A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart.
-- Charles Finney

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GRACE IS THE ULTIMATE FREE GIFT.
You don't deserve it. You don’t earn it. It will never wear out or grow thin. It fits you perfectly, no matter who you are. All you have to do to receive this life changing gift is ask for it.

The gift of Grace is free, but that doesn't mean it didn't come at a high price. God asked Jesus to give His life so Grace could change not only your destiny here on Earth but also for eternity. He believed you were worth it.

Take a moment to think about God's gift of Grace - and what it cost to extend it so freely to you. Thank God for the difference it's made in your life.

-- G's DA

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-- Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

-- 2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

-- 2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

-- 2 John 1:3
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

-- Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

-- 1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

-- James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives Grace to the humble." {Prov. 3:34}

-- Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

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-- Romans 3:20-26
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
26 He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

-- John 1:14 ,16,17
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth.
16 From the fullness of His Grace we have all received one blessing after another.
17 For the law was given through Moses; Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ.

-- Acts 15:11
"But we believe that we will be saved through the Grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."

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-- Romans 5:20,21
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But where sin increased, Grace increased all the more,
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also Grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-- Romans 6:1-4,10-12
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that Grace may increase?
2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
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14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under Grace.
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15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under Grace? By no means!
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey— whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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-- Romans 12:
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— His good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is Leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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-- 2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

-- Galatians 6:18
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.