Words To Remember - "Grace"

When we talk about pleasing God, as we have done in our previous posts, and how that is connected with our faith, it can seem overwhelming and even at times impossible to the natural mind; and actually it is if we are relying on our own ability.  But there is something called GRACE, which can be defined not only as kindness, goodwill, mercy, favor, etc., but it can also be defined as an empowerment and an enabling from God to us so that we can do/be what we could not do/be in and of ourselves.  God's grace actually helps us to meet His standard and His requirement.  


Now, understand that this grace is attracted to humility.  For in James 4:6, the writer says, "But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" (NRSV).  And in connection with this, we see the writer in Hebrews 4:16 saying, "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (NRSV).  So, in our approach to the throne of grace, we are humbling ourselves so that we can ultimately obtain more grace.  And this grace we find at the throne is: 
1) Saving (Ephesians 2:8)
2) Settling (Hebrews 13:9) 
3) Sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9)

Remember, beloved, God does not want us trying to please Him on our own strength, nor does He want us striving to walk by faith in our own might, but rather He wants us to come to His throne of grace with boldness (confidence, assurance) so that we can receive mercy and find (discover) His grace (empowerment, enabling) to help us in our time of need so that we can ultimately do/be what He wants and requires us to do/be.