C-19 Reflection #79: Lasting Grace

C~19 Daily Reflection (#79)

Theme:  Lasting Grace

Scripture: Ephesians 3:4-10

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Reflection:

“After centuries of handling and misunderstanding, most religious words have become so shopworn nobody’s much interested any more. Not so with grace, for some reason. Mysteriously, even derivatives like gracious and graceful, still have some of the bloom left.” ~ Fredrick Buechner

Question:

1.      What does grace mean to you?

2.      Why is it such a compelling word?