His Grace

The Grace of God
"Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Acts 11:19-26

The grace of God is something that is visible. Barnabas could see it in the lives of these Christians at Antioch. They were first called Christians in this place..where the grace of God was very apparent. Would the world call us Christians? Are we so much like Christ that His grace shines through us? Do the people we interact with every day know that we have the grace of God in our lives?

Acts 1:8 says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." The very fact that the word of God was preached to "the uttermost part of the earth" is grace. We are saved by grace. Everything that we lay claim to, we can only lay claim to it because of God's grace. Everything He does for us is because of Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) That's certainly a lot to think about. How truly undeserving we are of all the grace that is given to us.

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20 The grace of God....so amazing when a sinner realizes what grace is. When they see their sin, how great their sin abounds, it makes the grace of God abound more and more to them. Only when they see their sin in it's hideous ever-abounding state will they truly see the grace of God. As Christians, we demonstrate the grace of God by loving lost souls. We see these depraved people, we can see their sin, we know it's a stench before God. Yet we love them. THAT is the grace of God in our hearts. I think we should not forget where He brought us from, what wondrous grace He bestowed upon us! That will keep our hearts tender toward the lost.

These Christians in Antioch hungered to be taught the Word of God. That is a characteristic of someone who truly knows God's grace. Do we desire Him? Can we say as the Psalmist: "As the hart panted after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."? Charles Spurgeon said, "An indifference tot he Word of God is one of the greatest curses on the church at this time". He said that back in the 1800s. How much worse it is now!

We should determine to recognize and appreciate God's grace in our lives.We should want His grace and love to show in our lives. We need to hunger for Him and for His Word with a veracity that will only be fully satisfied when we reach Heaven. To live denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, godly, and with charity. Let's let Christ and His grace be demonstrated through us.