GRACIOUSNESS

It is my desire that Hebrews 12:15 is fulfilled to the best of my ability (teaching at least) - 

• See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. - Hebrews 12:15

When I bless my wife Tanya with a Happy (unexpected, undeserved gift) the both of us benefit. I benefit because, coming from an unconditional angle, I experience her elation at the surprise gift. She benefits from the gift itself and my caring enough to bless her with a Happy.  My premise for giving was I love her and my result was the joy that flooded her soul.

God has given us the ultimate Happy. The Scriptures call it and Him - Grace.  Max Lucado challenges us to get a grasp on what God's Grace really means by saying, "We talk as though we know what grace means. Grace! The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings and pre-meal prayers." (Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, Max Lucado)

Grace means favor and unmerited or undeserved favor at that! In God's case, grace meant displaying that favor in the form of The Hero of all-time - Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world! All the world is saved, we just have to activate our status as redeemed/saved "through faith" in who God has already provided as His love-gift, Jesus, our unmerited, undeserved favor.

• For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- Ephesians 2:8

I could try to give Tanya all the Happys in this world to suffice my love for her and assure her that I love her, but even though she is married to me, all those Happys would not begin to compare to the sufficiency of God's unmerited favor toward her.

• But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Even in Tanya's weakness she could boast about the favor, the grace of the Lord in her life. That kind of boasting is extremely limited in my relationship with her. Don't get me wrong, I am supportive, biased, and favor my wife with extreme prejudice, BUT GOD's Grace/Favor in her life is greater!

When Tanya or any of us are in a "time of need", The Manual of Life, The Bible, says that you can find your help by being confident and approaching the throne of grace where God already knows that you need to "receive mercy and find grace [favor]".

• Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

If you are in the process of experiencing and understanding His Grace, needing more of His favor especially at this moment in your life then I encourage you to approach God in prayer.  The Scripture admonishes us not to approach the LORD empty-handed (Exodus 23:15; 34:20; Deuteronomy 16:16).  So, approach His throne in prayer with a sacrifice of praise and thank Him for His grace(s) or favor seen and unseen, past and present.  Then seek His favor for your help in your time of need.  Even though He first loved us with His Amazing Grace before we knew and loved Him, Be gracious to God about His Grace and watch Him honor you with Favor!