SHARING AND SHOWING GRACE GRACIOUSLY

Those who claim to know God’s grace must speak and act graciously toward all. Jesus was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). He proclaimed truth in such a way that people “marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22) and His conduct was gracious as well.
Like Jesus, we must share the truth of grace graciously so that this wonderful message will not be tarnished, undermined, and even contradicted by ungracious words and conduct. How can we be gracious as we seek to proclaim grace? First of all we see that:

1. Grace is forgiving. We demonstrate the kind and loving nature of God’s grace when we grant forgiveness to those who offend us (cf. Eph. 4:32). The New Testament idea of forgiveness contains the idea of release. When we forgive those who hurt us, we release them from being the target of our resentment.

2. Grace is kind. It bestows on another thoughtful and helpful goodness (cf. Eph. 2:7). Kindness is more than doing or saying something good. A gracious spirit considers the feelings of others and deals gently with them with good will and a helpful intention. Love is also kind and gentle.

3. Grace is humble. The grace we experience as Christians removes all grounds for boasting because it is an absolutely free gift unmerited by anything we are or do. It keeps us from having an boasted opinion of ourselves (Rom.12:3). Grace admits a sinful past forgiven and an imperfect present.

4. Grace is encouraging. The biblical idea of encouragement implies the help of one who comes alongside of another to support or strengthen them in time of need. Someone with a gracious disposition reaches down to help others and lift them up (cf. 2 Cor. 8:9). A gracious spirit does not unlovingly criticize, condemn, discourage, or suppress someone so as to hinder their growth.

5. Grace is liberating. Grace has freed us from bondage to the law and legalistic demands (cf. Gal. 5:1-13). A legalistic spirit tyrannizes people with arbitrary and artificial expectations that stifle Christian growth, but a gracious spirit allows them to grow to become more like Christ. A gracious attitude toward others frees them to be what God wants them to be instead of demanding that they become what we or others might want them to be.

6. Grace is patient. The Word of God tell us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). That growth is a process in which grace teaches us - Titus 2:11-12 . Since God is a patient God like parent waiting for a child to mature. Likewise fellow believers are in a developmental process and they are not a finished product. We exhibit graciousness when we allow others the room and the time to become more Christlikeness in understanding, character, and conduct.

Conclusion
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).

A summary from Grace Life Ministries