August 29

Abounding Grace

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Abounding grace; I love that phrase! God's grace is such a precious gift and yet Paul tells us that He is able to make ALL GRACE ABOUND to us! The Greek word for abound in this text means more than enough, to be left over, make extremely rich, get it done with resources left over. Wow, I want that kind of grace, the kind where there is leftovers! How we get it is the question. Verse 7 gives us the key: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." It is the law of generosity. If we are cheerful gift givers, we will taste of this abounding grace! Sow and you shall reap. Give grace and then you will receive grace. What a transforming effect this principle will have in our lives! The more we appreciate the grace that has been bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, the easier it will become to bestow grace on others in our lives. A true understanding of where we would be without Christ and a realization of how undeserving we truly are of all that he has done in our lives helps us to truly appreciate this grace: grace we are so unworthy to receive and yet so freely given. So live a life of ABOUNDING grace! You will find your life filled with riches beyond your wildest dreams!

 Father, thank you so much for the grace that flows from your throne. You gave your Son that we might live. We have done nothing to deserve your kindness and yet your grace abounds to us. Help us to give such grace to all those with whom we have contact in this life. May it be said of us that grace abounds from our hearts, that we might taste of the riches you have in store for us today! Amen