Grace essentially means “gift” or “to give.” With all the gift-giving at Christmas time, we are reminded of God’s grace in giving us the greatest gift, Jesus Christ.
In fact, the apostle Paul equates the coming of Jesus with the grace of God, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11). When Paul says, “the grace of God has appeared” … he is referring to the coming of Christ. Jesus embodies God’s grace, a gift given to us not because we deserve it, but because of God’s immense love for us.
The proper response to a gift is to receive it, not work for it. But sometimes we struggle to accept God’s grace, to receive it personally. Our doubts, guilt, shame, or perhaps skewed view of God can create barriers to accepting God’s grace. You might feel unworthy, believe you must earn God’s favor, or that His grace will run out. But the Bible says grace is not earned; it is received … “all are justified freely by his grace … to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24–25).
Accepting God’s grace is an act of faith. It means believing that, despite your flaws and failures, God’s love for you remains constant. As you give and receive gifts this Christmas, let them remind you of God’s grace in your life. Thank the Lord for the many gifts He has given you. And if you struggle with trying to earn God’s favor, remember that God is a God of grace.
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