THE GRACE OF GOD

It is good to teach children, to put them in contact with God, using his Word and his Spirit. Above all, it’s important to remind them of the importance of God’s grace.

THE GRACE OF GOD
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 2 Thessalonians 1:2 (NLTse)

One pastor, aged 92, once said, “Jesus will be with you by his grace, which is always there and never changes”.

Here a few more verses that might help us remember this:
One day Moses said to the LORD, “…You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’” Exodus 33:12 (NKJV)
And God told the apostle Paul, “…My grace is sufficient for you…”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Let’s make grace a reality in our lives.
…The Grace of God is for us…
– But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 (NLTse)
– …But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15 (NLTse)
…The Grace of God, source of salvation, our salvation, and the way to salvation for all who accept it – Good News
– God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (NLTse)
– For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLTse)
…Eternal life through the Grace in Jesus
Many children ask the question, “Will everyone have eternal life?” And the answer, “All those who accept the good news: Jesus.”
– Adam and Eve’s fall did not change God’s love and grace. Instead, – — God said: “I’m declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He’ll wound your head, you’ll wound his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (MSG)

–>By spreading the good news of Jesus, we are telling people about His grace that allows us once again to come before God’s throne. Alleluia!
– So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Ephesians 2:19 (NLTse)
  * We can help our church communities to welcome children and give them a place in which they feel at home, and by helping to train people to be able to communicate the Gospel to children.

…God’s Grace gives us access to prayer
– Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. Ephesians 2:18 (NLTse)
These prayers are not just phrases that we repeat over and over again, they help us to start a conversation with our creator, with the Alpha and the Omega, with our father in heaven…and he is always happy to listen to the prayers of children…and adults…who have a sincere heart. How wonderful is that?!
– And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Mark 15:38 (NLTse)
– But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 2 Corinthians 3:16 (NLTse)
– He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 (NLTse)

…The Spirit of God’s Grace in Jesus does something within us
In the places God has put us, we are asked to show patience in the same way that he shows patience.

– Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NLTse)
– May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLTse)

Let’s not expect to see immediate results, even if sometimes that does happen.

In Conclusion
It is good for all of us to be excited by this spirit of grace as shown through Jesus, and to slowly lead children into taking hold of the grace that is talked about so much in the chapters and verses of God’s Word and that can be experienced through prayer.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:18