More Grace, More Favour
What does it mean to live in the grace and favour of God? Is it something we are given or something we can request? Is it only for some people, some circumstances, or is it available to us all?
Grace is a description of when we receive something that is more than we deserve. It’s our salvation - we are saved by grace! We have access to heaven even though we didn’t earn it. Grace is a gift that God gives, but it’s more than just salvation. We can experience the grace of God in our finances, our relationships, our circumstances. Anytime you receive more than you paid for, you are living in grace and favour. It’s when you work half a day but get paid for a full day. It’s when you only get 3 hours of sleep, but are able to function the next day as if you had 8. It’s when a loved one is sick and you don’t have the strength to go on each day, but somehow you do. That’s grace.
I’ve noticed that grace is all over the letters of the New Testament. The apostles are always praying that people would receive more grace. So it must be more than a one time gift, it must be something that we can see increase in our lives. When we are missing the grace and favour of God in our lives, we feel it. Our finances never seem to add up, our basic relational needs are not being met, we don’t seem to have the strength to face our circumstances. These are signs that we are in need of more grace. So how do we do that? How do we receive more grace? It’s a free gift, yes. But there is a key that will unlock the grace and favour of God in your life.
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. When we are in need of grace, we are called to humility. Not as a payment for it, but in agreement with it. When we are proud, we are opposing the grace of God. Living in opposition to the grace and favour of God is not a place I want to be! So I must choose humility, choose to walk in agreement with this call in my actions, my words, and my attitudes.
Humility is not about changing our identity, we are not to put ourselves down, but to lift others up. Jesus is the perfect example of humility. He never changed His identity, never said “oh, don’t worry about me, I don’t deserve a seat at the table”. He was always confident of who He was, but He was willing to meet the needs that He saw. I don’t think he washed the feet of the disciples because it was the lowliest job He could think of - I think He did it because He saw their need. He saw that they were dirty and that He could help by washing their feet.
When we examine the areas of our life that are lacking grace and favour, I think we will see nothing but opportunities. Opportunities to humble ourselves before God and others, to admit where we have been wrong, to bring mistakes into the light and allow God to change those 3 areas: action, words, and attitudes. I believe there are places of growth in your life that God is waiting to pour out His grace and favour on. Let’s be willing and available, let’s stop opposing God’s grace and favour with our pride. Be humble, and trust that in His timing, He will raise you up. He is faithful.
