One Trait at a Time: When Grace Fuels Your Effort
Wisdom Scripture
Isaiah 11:2 (NIV)
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—”
Wisdom Quote
In a word, the wise man was the God-fearing man; his wisdom lay not just in a static attitude of reverence, but rather in the conscious development of the mind toward wisdom in the context of reverence.[1]
[1] Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Wisdom, Wisdom Literature.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. 1988: 2149–2150. Print.
God’s Grace Inspires Your Effort
God’s grace leads to a godly life. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11–12). God’s grace moves you to build your character, including saying “no” to worldly desires and “yes” to righteous, godly actions. Grace does not exclude effort. Instead, it motivates discipline. Rightly understood, God’s grace inspires great effort.
Paul credits grace. When Paul describes his life, he gives the credit to God’s grace: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). It’s God’s grace that inspired and empowered Paul to work harder. His determined intention was to grow in Christ. He did not work to earn grace but worked hard because of grace.
Prepared for good works. Because you are saved by God’s grace, not by your works, you should do the good works that God re-creates you in Christ to do. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8–10). God’s grace saves you and sanctifies you. You are saved by grace to do good works. God has prepared your transformation for you in advance.
Grace restores. When you fail to do the good you want to do, remember God’s gracious gift that saves you. Grace forgives and restores. Grace empowers you to get back up and keep going. Don’t abuse grace as an excuse to fail, but use grace as fuel to move forward. By the Spirit’s power, God re-creates you to do the good that he prepared in advance for you to do.
