This past Sunday we went through Philippians 4:20-23 and saw Paul end this letter of joy just as he started it in Phil. 1:1-2, with grace. In verse 20 Paul praise our mighty God and then in verse 21 Paul graciously greeted everyone in the church. Not just his click, the people who haven’t hurt him or appear to be perfect, but ALL the Christians in Philippi. Then in verse 22 we saw the extent of grace. Paul, by God’s grace, was able to reach even the members of Caesar’s household with the gospel. God’s grace can impact ALL. Paul wrote this letter of joy by starting and ending with the Grace of God. Why? Because as we saw Sunday. Grace is the doorway to joy. A person must have the grace of God to experience the joy of God.
Now it’s on this theme of grace I want to focus today. Grace is unmerited favor. It’s a payday without the work. It’s a father bringing home a princess dress for his daughter not because it’s her birthday, she asked for it, or because she’s been extra special good, but simply because he wants to love her. God loved us, and what did he do. He gave us grace. We who are dead in sin, by our choice on a road straight to hell (due to our sin), have been given the option to except God’s grace by believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior or reject it. If we accept it we are forgiven of all our sins, given the Holy Spirit, become part of the body of Christ, have the hope of heaven and more! If we reject it, we get what we earned, life without God now and for all of eternity in hell in the future. This is the gospel. The eternal payday without work has come through faith in Jesus Christ.
Considering this, I have a question. As Christians, we get to enjoy the grace of God. And part of enjoying that grace is extending it to others as Christ extended it to us. Are you and I doing that? Do we give grace to our spouses, children or friends? Do we find ways to bless people without strings attached? Today I encourage you to think about the person that you consider closest to you and bless them with an act of grace and God has blessed you and watch joy abound. And then after you do that I encourage you to have even more fun and experience even more joy by blessing the most recent person who has made your life miserable. Give grace as Christ gave it to us.
