Dear Friend in Christ,

Greetings to you in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “grace” is widely heard in our day-to-day prayers and conversations and it is wonderful that we acknowledge GOD's grace for what we were made to be and what we will be.

What is grace and where did it come from?

In the Old Testament the word grace appears around 37 times and in the New Testament the word grace appears around 122 times. It is no wonder that the new treatment has recorded more of the word "grace" as long as we realize that this greatest expression of GOD's grace for us was born on the cross.

Grace is defined as an unmerited gift - a gift that can never be earned or deserved.

The gift of salvation which promises a life with the Holy and mighty God for the sinners like us both now and forever is for sure an incredible unmerited gift.

But this grace that is showered upon us freely was earned at a cost, it is the blood and the body of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who became the price for this gift.

Can grace be taken for granted?

Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says,

As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1(NIV)

In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus narrates a parable where a man before going to a distant land for becoming a king, calls ten of his servants and gives them ten pounds. Then the man leaves with a promise of returning as a king. When a few of them worked with what had been graciously given to them, one servant hid the pound that he received graciously. One day when no one expected the man returned this time crowned as the king and called his servants to give  an account for what they received from him. When the other servants who made good use of what they had received, were honoured in his kingdom, the one who hid the pound ignoring it, stood behind with nothing.

This is the same with you today, God by His grace has given us plenty of immeasurable gifts for a purpose. Although everything seems alright and nobody questions you today, it is good to be reminded that God's quietness is also His grace, which we call the grace period. But on the judgement day, when no one is expecting, Jesus will return crowned as the King of Kings and will call you to give an account for what you have received and what you have done with it.

Revelation 20:12 says,

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

It is a joy to celebrate the grace we have received, but every time we celebrate, let us also be reminded that we are accountable for that same grace we have received.

Therefore, let us work in accordance to the grace we have received, never using it in vain.