Extending Grace
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:8-9
Billy Graham was driving through a town one day and was pulled over for going 10 miles over the speed limit. He admitted his guilt but decided to go to court. When the judge asked him how he pleaded, he said “guilty.” He was charged $10, a dollar for every mile over the limit he traveled. However, when the judge realized that it was Billy Graham, he offered to cover the cost. Although Graham was willing to pay the price for his actions, the judge extended grace to him on that day.
We see the alternative happen regarding the unmerciful servant. Matthew 18:21-35 highlights that story of the unmerciful servant who owed his master money but was unable to pay it. The master had mercy on him. But when someone owed that same servant money, he was unwilling to cancel the debt. Finding out what happened, the master handed him over to jailers to be tortured and required that he pay back everything he owed. The servant quickly forgot that act of kindness that he was given; and as a result, he ended up right back where he started: in debt.
God calls us to provide grace to others because He provides grace to us. We do not always say and do what we are supposed to, but God sees our heart. He knows when we make a sincere mistake and when we are unforgiving and unrepentant.
The good news is that our character does not change God’s character. As we highlighted yesterday, God is so loving that He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He gives us time to correct our wrongs and is there to pick us up when we fall. That is not permission for us to abuse His grace. That is more incentive for us to see the error of us ways and make a change for the better.
When you are faced with the decision to extend grace to others or not, always choose the former. For this is what God chooses to do for you.
Billy Graham was driving through a town one day and was pulled over for going 10 miles over the speed limit. He admitted his guilt but decided to go to court. When the judge asked him how he pleaded, he said “guilty.” He was charged $10, a dollar for every mile over the limit he traveled. However, when the judge realized that it was Billy Graham, he offered to cover the cost. Although Graham was willing to pay the price for his actions, the judge extended grace to him on that day.
We see the alternative happen regarding the unmerciful servant. Matthew 18:21-35 highlights that story of the unmerciful servant who owed his master money but was unable to pay it. The master had mercy on him. But when someone owed that same servant money, he was unwilling to cancel the debt. Finding out what happened, the master handed him over to jailers to be tortured and required that he pay back everything he owed. The servant quickly forgot that act of kindness that he was given; and as a result, he ended up right back where he started: in debt.
God calls us to provide grace to others because He provides grace to us. We do not always say and do what we are supposed to, but God sees our heart. He knows when we make a sincere mistake and when we are unforgiving and unrepentant.
The good news is that our character does not change God’s character. As we highlighted yesterday, God is so loving that He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He gives us time to correct our wrongs and is there to pick us up when we fall. That is not permission for us to abuse His grace. That is more incentive for us to see the error of us ways and make a change for the better.
When you are faced with the decision to extend grace to others or not, always choose the former. For this is what God chooses to do for you.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments