Having experienced God’s grace, ourselves, we are called on to extend that grace to others. The evidence of whether we are living by his grace is to be found int he way we treat other people. When we see ourselves as sinners and totally unworthy in ourselves of God’s compassion, patience, and forgiveness, then we will want to be gracious to others. God’s grace is meant to be a transforming grace. Paul says in Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” God’s grace brings salvation, not only from the guilt and condemnation of sin, but also from the reign of sin in our lives. The first character trait that should flow out of experiencing God’s grace is gratitude. In the gift of eternal life, God has given us greater treasure than all the accumulated wealth of the world. The question we need to evaluate is, “Are we sufficiently grateful for this priceless gift?” The reality is that all blessings come to us by God’s grace, and all of them are occasions for gratitude and giving thanks to Him.
