GRACE IS A GIFT THAT SAVES AND TRANSFORMS LIVES
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Friday 21st June 2024
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
Grace is a teacher. Grace will always teach you. Grace will also empower you to do things. Sometimes, people misunderstand what grace is all about. It is God who gave grace for salvation. The grace of God is not a license to live a life of sin. No! If you are living a life of sin and saying that, after all, it is by grace that we are saved, then we may even question whether you are saved at all because, in the Bible, all those who experienced and encountered the grace of God had their lives changed.
In John, Chapter 4, Grace reached out to that woman of Samaria. The woman wondered why Jesus should be asking her for water, being a Jew and she was a Samaritan. So why should you ask me for water that I am not qualified for? Eventually, grace reached out to her; she encountered grace. The scripture tells us that she immediately went back to the city, to the men and told them to come and see a real man who had told her everything about her life. You all took advantage of me, but this man redefined me, gave me focus and put me on my pathway to destiny. She received grace, and her life was changed completely.
The woman who was caught in adultery encountered grace when Jesus spoke for her. And all her accusers were gone by the time He lifted His head. Then Jesus said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? She answered that they were all gone. Jesus said neither do I condemn you. She received a gift of no condemnation. Then He said now that you have received this gift, go and sin no more. You can go because the gift of grace has already come upon your life. So go and live a life free of sin, and love God with all your heart.
Further reading John 4: 5-30; John 8: 1-11
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Esther 3-5; Evening- Acts 5:22-42