APRIL 20: AVOID VANITY OF GRACE

Human beings have a tendency of not maximally utilizing or possibly underutilizing a thing that is given to them as a gift. Sometimes, such gifts are not used and they are wasted, squandered or underused. This is because many see gifts as things for which they did not work or labour. However, gifts should be cherished, valued and appropriately used in order to gladden the heart of the giver. Just as the prodigal son who squandered all he received in a strange land in riotous living, God is warning you never to waste, squander or make the gift of God’s grace of no effect, fruitless and barren.

In today’s text, Paul made bold to say that the grace of God given to him was not in vain. A great price was paid to purchase the free grace that has been extended to us, because “…he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore, this grace must be fruitful and bring forth results. Paul said I labored more them all (1Cor. 15:10), we must supply the requisite labour needed to maximize grace.

Grace is in vain each time you shift your attention from the righteousness of God and rely squarely on your rules, abilities, and efforts. God’s grace is also in vain when you dishonor God by living a carefree, lazy and reckless life, because faith without works is dead. It must be noted that grace does not license you to live anyhow nor does it legalize you to obey self-imposed rules in order to earn God’s love. However, grace gives you a privilege to rely on God’s righteousness to live a pleasing life unto God and full of good works. How are you engaging the grace of God? Beware of laziness and legalism.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, help me not to live a carefree and reckless life, squandering and wasting your grace in my life in Jesus’ name, Amen.