The Transforming Power of God's Grace: Empowering You to Do Great Things

Grace: God's Power to Transform

Introduction:

Have you ever experienced a time when things just seemed to fall into place effortlessly? When you accomplished something great, and you couldn't explain how it happened? In those moments, we often attribute our success to luck or our own abilities. But what if I told you that there is a greater power at work behind the scenes? A power that not only enables us to do good things but also transforms us from the inside out. That power is called grace.

What is Grace?

Grace is more than just God's disposition to do good for us when we don't deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us. The apostle Paul understood this concept well when he wrote, "By the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Grace as Power:

Grace is not a passive concept; it is an active force that propels us forward. In Paul's case, God's grace empowered him to work harder than anyone else. Grace enabled him to accomplish great things for God's kingdom. And this grace is not limited to Paul alone; it is available to each one of us.

When Paul urges the Philippians to "work out your own salvation," he adds, "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12–13). Here we see that grace is the power from God that enables us to do good things and align our will with His. It is not our own strength or effort but the grace of God working within us.

Grace as Past, Present, and Future:

Grace is not confined to a specific moment in time. It is both past and future. It cascades over the infinitesimal waterfall of the present from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future. This grace accumulates in the reservoir of the past, constantly growing and sustaining us.

As we reflect on the past year, we can see the grace of God at work in our lives. It is through His grace that we have been able to overcome challenges, experience growth, and accomplish great things. Our response to this past grace should be one of thankfulness, acknowledging the power of God at work in our lives.

But grace is not just a thing of the past. It is also a promise for the future. As we enter into a new year, we can have confidence in the grace that awaits us. Just as God has provided for us in the past, He will continue to pour out His grace upon us in the future. Our response to this future grace should be one of faith, trusting in God's provision and His power to transform us.

Conclusion:

Grace is not a mere concept; it is a power that enables us to do good things and transforms us from the inside out. It is God's grace that empowers us to work diligently, accomplish great things, and align our will with His. It is a force that is both past and future, sustaining us and promising us even greater things to come.

As we embark on a new year, let us hold onto the truth of God's grace. Let us be thankful for the past grace we have experienced and have faith in the future grace that awaits us. May we rely on the power of God's grace to transform us, to enable us to do good things, and to bring glory to His name.