"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart, for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me."
-Philippians 1: 7

Got Grace?

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4: 16) I was thinking about the clever advertising that what was done by dairy producers to get people to drink milk. The ads always ended with the phrase, 'Got milk?' I realize that in my life that I am nothing without the grace that I find in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have 'been there, done that' when it comes to falling short in life. But Jesus has always been there for me and I approach His 'throne of grace' with confidence. He always comes through. So, how about you? Do you, 'Got Grace?' Let's look at several examples of New Testament people who received God's grace.

• The paralytic whose friends carried him to Jesus.
  (Luke 5: 17-26)
  
• Jarius whose daughter was brought back to life or the sick woman in the crowd who in faith reached out to touch Jesus' cloak and
  was healed. (Mark 5: 21-43)
  
• The many in the crowd who were healed by Jesus.
  (Matthew 8: 14-16)
  
• The Pharisee, Saul, who was transformed into the evangelist, Paul, on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9: 1-19)
  
• The adulterer, saved by Jesus, who was about to be stoned to death. Or the people with a stone in their hand. (John 8: 1-11)
  
• The Prodigal son. (Luke 15 11-31)
  
• The Roman centurion. (Luke 7: 1-9)
  
• Lazarus, who was raised from the dead. (John 11: 38-44)
  
• The blind man, blind from birth, who was healed by Jesus. (John 9: 1-12)
  
• The thief on the cross, crucified next to Jesus, who asked for and received salvation that day. (Luke 23: 32-43)
  
• Peter, the disciple, who disowned Jesus three times.
  (Luke 22: 54-62)
  
• Zaccaeus, the tax collector, whose house Jesus came to dine. (Luke 19: 1-19)

These are but a few of the many examples that can be found of God's grace that comes through His Son, Jesus. Open your Bibles and read about them. Which one are you from the list above? In my life, I know that I have been all of them at one point or another. Praise the Lord for His boundless love and endless grace. The same grace offered to all the people in the list above is offered to you today! It can be found by making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior and accepting the gift of grace from Him. The same Jesus who loved all those people above, loves you as well. So how about it, do you 'Got Grace?'

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."
-Ephesians 2: 8-9

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