Life through the grace of Jesus
The last verse of the New Testament succinctly expresses what the Christian faith is about and what Jesus' message to all humanity is: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone!" (Revelation 2)2,21The grace of Jesus cannot be earned. No one can earn it through their own deeds, special merits, or pious acts. It is an undeserved gift and an expression of God's boundless love. This divine grace is the power that transforms lives: it cleanses us from sin, empowers us to live as Christians in everyday life, and leads us ever deeper into a living, personal relationship with the triune God.
The Apostle John concludes the canon of Holy Scripture with the promise that the grace of Jesus is always open to humankind. This promise is both encouragement and comfort. For we depend on living by this grace day after day if our character is to become more like that of Jesus and if we are to act in accordance with God's will. As people who have received Jesus' grace, we are also called to pass on what we have received. God's love does not want to remain with us. It compels us to show it through compassion and kindness, even in challenging situations: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive each other if any of you has a grievance against someone else. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 1:16). 3,12–14). The grace we experience finds its expression in a new way of relating to one another.
When we shape our lives in this grace, we become distributors of God's goodness. We carry God's light and his message of reconciliation into our work environment, our families, and our neighborhoods. Jesus describes it this way: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 11:12). 5,14–16). Those who live by grace become visible ambassadors for the heavenly Father.
In our daily lives, in our decisions, relationships, and tasks, we should always be aware of the presence of his grace. It empowers us to credibly carry on the message of reconciliation in word and deed: “But all this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. For God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.” (2. Corinthians 5,18-20).
God himself acts, and he includes us in this action. Before you close the Bible, after reading the last words of the last verse of the last chapter of the last book, it is worthwhile to pause for a moment and reflect on the meaning of God's grace in your own life. How has this grace shaped your path as a Christian? In what situations has it sustained, corrected, or reoriented you? And in what concrete ways can you share this love with others?
Let us thank and praise our Creator for his love and his grace. Let us thank him that he met us graciously when we were still his enemies. As recipients of God's grace in Christ, we not only share in the love and life of the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit, but also in God's mission in this world. The time when Jesus will return with power and glory is hidden from us; neither the angels nor we know it. Only this is clear: He will return. "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone!" (Revelation 2)2,20-21).
Until that day, we want to focus on making God's love, which dwells in us through Jesus Christ, visible to our fellow human beings. We gratefully accept God's grace, choose to live by it, and trust in Jesus' return with full hope.
by Barry Robinson
