It is important to recognize God’s grace as the source of power in our lives and learn to draw upon that grace in time of need. God’s grace is the power within a believer to bring change. As we are changed by God’s influence on the inside, we become more effective in bringing change to situations on the outside.
Consider this important difference between the roles of faith and grace in our lives and how each brings change:
Faith changes things. God has given us His faith to use to bring change to the natural situations we face. He works together with us to bring His power and influence into those external circumstances that need to turn around in accordance with His will. How does faith come? Romans 10:17 answers that important question. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (NKJV). Our faith is built by spending time meditating on God’s Word. As we grow in faith, we become equipped to move the mountains that stand in our way.
On the other hand, God’s grace changes people. By His grace, we become what He has said in His Word we are to be.
We could be facing an extremely challenging problem right now; feeling unable to cope with the pressure. The grace you are walking in doesn’t seem to be enough. Your weakness and inability seem to contain you and threaten your faith. Yet you know that God has provided you with all the supernatural power and ability you need to handle any situation.
Whenever you find yourself in this kind of situation, you need to follow the Apostle Peter’s instructions found in Second Peter 3:18 to”…grow in grace.” (KJV).
The writer of Hebrews tells us how we grow in grace: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). Grace comes as we spend time in His presence before the throne of grace. We are strengthened with His supernatural power as we linger there. Just as the smell of cigarettes clings to our clothing when we walk through a smoke-filled room, in the same way, we take on a fragrance when we are in the presence of God. It is the aroma of the grace of God on our lives that draws people toward Him.
We have been invited to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find the grace we need to help us through any situation. The more time we spend in the presence of God, the more we will grow in the grace of God.
