What is grace?  Some have defined grace this way:  G-R-A-C-E, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Another has said, “The very heart of the gospel is the supreme truth that God accepts us with no conditions whatever when we put our trust in the atoning sacrifice of His incarnate Son.” (Unknown)  Another has defined grace this way:  “Grace is everything for nothing to those who don’t deserve anything.”  (Daily Bread) Grace originates with God. Grace is God’s unmerited favor.

I can see an abundance of God’s grace in my life.  I was born when my mother was 17 years old.  My mother contemplated abortion when she was pregnant with me.  I praise God she did not do it.  I would not be here today.  Growing up, I endured physical and verbal abuse from my father.  We went to bed hungry on some nights.  Poverty and ill health plagued my life.  Yet, the grace of God was abundant through it all.  I contemplated suicide when I was 16 years old.  God saved my life through His indiscriminate, abundant grace.

I once asked my mother to define grace.  She could not give me a theological definition of grace.  However, she said she understands grace through God’s provisions and protection.  She recalls the days we slept outside, in the cold when my dad had been drunk and chased us all out of the house. My mother experienced grace when we lacked necessities, yet relatives would bless us with food, money, and clothing.  My mother saw the grace of God when there was no money for my school tuition, yet my relatives would generously pay for my school tuition.  My mother saw God’s grace through the generosity of a family in Europe who sponsored me to complete my high school.

My mother experienced God’s unmerited favor when she repented and gave her life to Jesus.  I see God’s grace at the point of my salvation, too.  I had been frustrated and dejected to the point of considering suicide, yet God spared my life.  I see God’s grace at those times when I feel weary and overwhelmed; He gives me rest and peace.  I see God’s grace in small things.  I see God’s grace in the big things.  How about you?  Have you experienced God’s unmerited favor?  Can you see God’s thread of grace throughout your life?  You may think you do not deserve God’s love.  You are right.  We do not, yet that is exactly what grace is – unmerited favor.  Amazing grace.