We live in a world that is quick to judge, quick to cancel and slow to forgive. One wrong word online, one mistake in a relationship or one disagreement in a family can leave scars that last for years. Our society often knows how to criticize but rarely knows how to extend compassion. What is missing is the very thing the Bible calls us to live out—grace.
Grace is one of the most beautiful words in Scripture. It means God’s unmerited, undeserved favor. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV): “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation is not something we earn or deserve. It is a gift given by God through Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, you have received that gift. He forgave your sins, gave you eternal life and promised you a home in heaven. But grace is not meant to stop with us. Grace is not a reservoir— it is a river. What flows into us should flow out of us.
We must remember the gift of grace that has been received. John 1:17 declares, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Grace begins with Christ Himself. Romans 5:2 says we “stand” in grace, meaning it not only saves us but secures us. Grace is not fragile or temporary— it is the firm foundation of the Christian life. Think of a drowning man at sea. He cannot save himself. But if someone throws him a rope, that rope is his only hope. That is grace. God reached down to us when we were helpless and hopeless and saved us by His mercy.
Yet grace was never meant to be hoarded.
That brings us to the goal of grace reproduced. In Ephesians 4:29 Paul says our words should “minister grace unto the hearers.” Grace should show up in our daily living— in our speech, our spirit, and our service. In our speech, we should use words that encourage and build up, not words that tear down. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” In our spirit, we are called to lay aside bitterness, wrath and anger, and instead be tenderhearted and forgiving. And in our service, 1 Peter 4:10 tells us we are stewards of God’s grace, called to share it with others through acts of kindness, patience and compassion.
A powerful example of this comes from Corrie Ten Boom, who survived a Nazi concentration camp. Years later, she faced one of the guards who had mistreated her. He asked for forgiveness. At first she recoiled, but then, relying on God’s strength, she extended her hand and forgave him. That was grace reproduced.
Finally, when we live this way, we see the greatness of grace reflected. Paul concludes in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” We forgive because we have been forgiven. We extend grace because we have received grace. Hebrews 4:16 says we can come boldly to the “throne of grace.” Just as Christ welcomes us, we are called to welcome others. A mirror has no light of its own; it only reflects what shines upon it. Likewise, our lives should reflect the grace of Jesus Christ to a dark and broken world.
So let me ask: have you received the gift of grace? Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” No matter your past, His grace is greater. And if you have received it, then let it flow through you. Don’t just be a receiver of grace—be a giver of grace. Your home needs it. Your marriage needs it. Your children need it. This community needs it. And when grace flows through you, others won’t just see you—they will see Jesus.
