by: Russell McLaughlin

Got Grace?

            Lillie Baltrip was a good bus driver. In fact, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram of June 17, 1988, the Houston school district nominated her for a safe driving award.  Her colleagues even trusted her to drive a busload of them to an awards ceremony for safe drivers.  Unfortunately, on the way to the ceremony, Lillie turned a corner too sharply and flipped the bus over, sending her and sixteen others to the hospital for minor emergency treatment.

            Did Lillie, accident free for years, get her award anyway?  No.  Award committees rarely operate on the principle of grace.  How fortunate we are that even when we don’t maintain a spotless life record, our final reward depends on God’s grace and an obedient response on our part, not on our spotless performance!

            God’s grace is a free gift of salvation for those who respond to God’s will.  The New Testament teaches that those who believe (John 3:16), repent (Acts 2:38), confess (Romans 10:10) and are baptized (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21) are saved by God’s Grace.  Grace, someone said, “means God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  Paul says in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

            Have you embraced God’s Grace?  When it comes to God’s Grace remember you can take it now, but time can run out.  Don’t wait too late!

            Remember Paul’s words in Titus 2:11-14, “11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”