But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7
How many times have I heard the word “grace” in church, on the radio, or from a friend, but still not understood its meaning? According to the biblical definition, grace is unmerited favor, getting something good that you didn’t deserve. It’s the lovingkindness of God. A few years ago, after I read this definition I thought about three faces of grace.
The first is the grace face of salvation. According to the Bible, we are saved by grace. We didn’t earn it; we can’t do anything to get it. We have received it because of God’s lovingkindness, His unmerited favor.
The second grace face is the face of ability. In 2 Cor. 12:7, Paul describes a “thorn in the flesh” that he received. There are various ideas about what this might have been, but whatever it was, Paul asked God to remove it. God said no. Instead He said, “My grace [my lovingkindness, my unmerited favor] is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God’s grace, His favor, freely given, was enough to help Paul endure. This grace face gives us the ability to do stuff: to raise children, to endure something difficult—and to live life on planet Earth.
The last grace face is the grace face of blessings. This one hit me hard as I thought about the definition of grace: it’s His unearned favor. In an effort to understand grace better, I prayed, “Lord, show me your grace.” I expected Him to show me His favor in the days to come or bring my attention to something in the present. Instead, memories of the past came flooding in carrying with them the blessings that I had received and times of unmerited favor. It was as if He was saying. . .
“Shana, do you remember the job you were unqualified for that I gave you? ”
“Ah, yes Lord. That was your grace.”
“How about when I provided for you financially in narrow places?”
“Yes, grace too.”
“I healed your illness.”
“Grace indeed, Lord.”
