The Bible is full of stories that depict the grace of God being poured out on His people. God truly wants to pour out grace to encourage you to press forward and advance in the things He shows you. Your Heavenly Father truly wants to give you great confidence. He truly has your best interest in His heart.
On the one hand, we recognize His grace as His unmerited favor. Beyond the favor of God, though, God’s grace is about His empowerment through the active presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth three times. The Holy Spirit sheds light on God’s truths, offering us the best source of true wisdom. Even in times of weakness, Jesus encourages us to receive God’s strength.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
As God pours His empowering grace upon us and through us God is glorified. We witness God’s glory, His splendor and magnificence. The people who participated in King David’s service experienced God’s glory in powerful ways. They had courage, and encourage us by sharing their experience with us.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)
RELEVANCE
Jesus wants us to experience His grace and truth, His glory, His beauty, splendor, power, miracles and joy—on earth as it is in heaven. His first disciples experienced this. God was glorified as His grace was poured out and experienced. Beyond seeing the favor of His grace, His grace was validated by demonstrating and proving God’s Word, His truths, His promises. The disciples got to experience God’s grace and truths being expressed and revealed in living color. It encouraged them to press forward, even through conflict and difficulties. The Holy Spirit brought them great joy and peace!
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
There’s so much balance to be found in God’s grace and truth. If we emphasize grace alone, we can be blind to falsehood and walk in deception. On the other hand, if we focus strictly on truth, we can become cold, hardened and dogmatic. Jesus expressed the perfect balance of grace and truth.
God is glorified as we walk in His grace and truth. He is glorified through the grace gifts of the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of truth—manifested in and through us. He is glorified as we exemplify His grace and truth as we walk in love and truth, or compassion and integrity. God is love and truth.
Truth, though, is often debated. Some people believe truth is relative to one’s perspective. We can perceive truth differently. In God’s grace, however, truth can be discerned and revealed. It takes trusting faith in God. So, in God’s grace we can point people to truth. And in His truth we gain wisdom and good judgment. That brings us true inner peace and joy. Thankfully, in His grace and truth we can overcome conflict and the trials of life.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
REFLECT, RELATE AND RESPOND
Consider some decisions you have made. Reflect on the decisions that have resulted in good and bad outcomes. How can you relate when you receive grace? Where can you see grace and truth in the situation? How is the Holy Spirit showing you how to move forward?