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2021: A Year of Grace

 If there is one thing 2020 proved is that we are all in desperate need of grace. We all need to change, to grow closer to God and more like Jesus. We need both God's grace and to show grace to one another. So we should endeavor to make 2021 a year of grace.

What exactly is grace? I often think we don't really know what grace is. We say it is "unmerited favor," but that definition doesn't really clarify what exactly grace is. Really we define grace by what it is not. We know that grace is not works. It comes from God and has nothing to do with us. In the end grace has become a sort of nebulous, mystical force that we know is there but aren't really sure what it does.

Titus 2:11-14 makes it abundantly clear what grace does. Grace trains us to resist ungodliness. Grace trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. Grace is given by Jesus to transform us into a holy people zealous for good works. 

Grace is transformative. Grace always brings with it a call to grow and to be more like Jesus. Grace, rather than being the antithesis of works, is the catalyst that allows us to do good works. 

Grace is a free gift given by God. It is not some spiritual force that surrounds us but can be identified concretely. Scripture is a free gift given to us by God to transform our lives. Scripture is grace. Baptism is a free gift given to us by God to transform our lives. Baptism is grace. I hope you see the point.

This year look for God's gift of grace in your life. God's grace always comes with an invitation to grow and be transformed. It always calls us to be more like Jesus and to live our lives now zealous for good works.

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