Daily Grace

(with “Amazing Grace,” Music: Traditional American melody, Lyrics: John Newton)

Music: Edwin M. Willmington

Lyrics: Edwin M. Willmington and Sharon Odegaard

I have a gift from the God of compassion,

A treasure I claim when I pray;

Out of His love, His love overflowing

Comes grace fresh and new for today.

(Chorus)

He gives daily grace for daily cares,

His grace is sufficient to carry you;

He gives daily grace for daily cares,

His grace is sufficient for you.

I sing my song to the God of all good gifts,

Thanksgiving and praise overflow;

Now as I live, my eyes fixed on Jesus

In knowledge and grace I will grow.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind but now I see.

His grace is sufficient for you.

Read John 1:14-18.

It was born to us from the moment He thought of bringing us into existence — the mere fact that He knew what we would become, how we would respond to Him — and yet He still created us anyway. That was the beginning of it. It came as proof that He is what He said He is — loving, merciful, patient, protecting, guiding, saving — worthy. Grace. That wondrous, unfathomable, meritless favor that is amazing.

It is a God-feature that almost defies description. Grace is more than favor. It is a gift. It is forgiving mercy. It is the Gospel. It is eternal life. Grace is all surrounding, all penetrating. We are under it. We can receive it. We stand in it. We abound in it. Our strength is found in it, and without it we are unable to grow. It is a possession given by God to His own for stewardship; it is at once present and yet also an inheritance to come. It is amazing.

Only grace would be willing to lead us out of the wilderness experiences of our own making, despite our rebellion. Only grace would actively seek us out when we wandered lost. It is grace that stands immediately available to calm our fears, even as it teaches us the awesomeness of righteous-clothed love. And only grace would be willing to trade the throne of honor and might for a garment of flesh — willing to trade the ability to alter the universe for the ability to alter the history of an individual life. Amazing. Grace.

Food for Thought:

Next to each of the different aspects of grace that are listed, write down how you see it manifested in your life.

Being under grace (Romans 6:14)

Receiving grace (John 1:16)

Standing in grace (Romans 5:2)

Abounding in grace (II Corinthians 9:8)

Strength in grace (II Timothy 2:1)

Growth in grace (II Peter 3:18)

Speaking/acting in grace (Ephesians 4:29)

How do you intend to fulfill I Peter 4:10, as a steward of grace?

Do you think the stewardship of grace and the inheritance of grace are somehow connected? Why?

Cross References:

John 1:16-17...For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:11...But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.

Acts 18:27...And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he helped greatly those who had believed through grace.

Romans 1:5...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake.

Romans 3:24...being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:2...through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 6:14...For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 11:6...But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

II Corinthians 9:8...And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

Galatians 1:15...But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased...

Ephesians 1:6-7...to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 4:29...Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

II Thessalonians 2:16-17...Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

II Timothy 2:1...You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

James 4:6...But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

I Peter 1:13...Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I Peter 3:7...You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

I Peter 4:10...As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

II Peter 3:18a...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All lyrics reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for local church use only, without the prior permission of Kimberly H. Shoup.

shoups@ifriendly.com

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