Speaker: Darlene Sala | Series: Encouraging Words | “Grace” is one of those words that I find hard to define.  In the Christian world, grace has often been defined as G-R-A-C-E, God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.  And that it is! God gives us His grace, or undeserved favor, at the expense of His Son, Who died on the cross to pay for our sins.

But another definition I also like is this: “Grace is love stooping.” Isn’t that a beautiful picture?  Here we are living on this earth out of touch with God and not having any idea how to relate to Him.  After all, He is totally holy and we are totally sinners. But grace in the Bible first came from a Hebrew word meaning to bend or stoop in kindness. That is exactly what He did. In the International Children’s Bible, Psalm 18:35 reads, “You [God] stoop down to make me great.” The apostle Paul wrote,

Though [Jesus] was God, he…gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8 NLT). (end quote)

Because He was willing to pay for our sins, we can now have a beautiful relationship with Him.

Paul opens most of his writings in the Bible with a greeting that says, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Never does he reverse the two and write “Peace and grace.” Why? Because grace must come first. We’ll never have peace until we receive His grace to wipe away our sins.

Take that thought with you today—Grace is love stooping.  And thank Him for reaching down to touch your life with His amazing grace.