Today we continue our series entitled “Living the Grace Life,” where we will learn to embrace and walk in God’s unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved favor throughout 2025.
Key scriptures for this year:
2 Corinthians? ?9?:?8? ?TPT??
“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything —every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.”
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??Galatians? ?5?:?4? ?TPT??
“If you want to be made right with God by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh—you have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!”
Romans? ?6?:?14? ?ERV??
“Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God’s grace.”
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1 Corinthians? ?15?:?10? ?CEV??
“But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn’t wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God’s grace at work and not me.”
Scripture for today:
(John 1:17 NKJV)
“For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Setting the stage:
When John wrote that “the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ,” he was highlighting a fundamental shift in how God relates to His people. Notice the difference in the language: the Law was “given,” but grace and truth “came.” The Law was like a set of instructions written on tablets of stone – external and demanding. But grace and truth came embodied in a person – Jesus Christ. This wasn’t just a change in rules; it was a complete transformation in how God would interact with humanity. Under The Law, people were constantly trying to reach up to God through their own efforts. Under grace, God reached down to us through His Son. This shift from Law to grace isn’t just theological; it’s practical and life-changing. It affects how we relate to God, how we view ourselves, and how we live our daily lives.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Understanding The Two Systems.
The Bible presents two distinctly different systems for relating to God. The Law system is based on human performance and what you must do FOR God. The grace system is based on divine provision and what God has already done FOR you. These systems are mutually exclusive – you should not try to mix them. Under The Law, the emphasis is on YOUR performance. Under grace, the emphasis is on JESUS’ performance.
How this applies to you:
— The Law demands; grace provides. The Law tells you what you must do, but provides no power to do it. I will explain later that The Law was designed to prove to man that we are not that good. Grace, on the other hand, not only shows you what needs to be done but empowers you to do it. The Law says “do”; grace says “done.”
— Under The Law, you work FOR blessing; under grace, you work FROM blessing. This is a complete paradigm shift. Instead of working to get God to bless you, you work because He has already blessed you. Your service flows from a position of acceptance rather than an attempt to earn acceptance.
— Law-consciousness focuses on your ability; grace-consciousness focuses on God’s ability. When you’re Law-conscious, you’re always wondering if you’re good enough, strong enough, or holy enough. When you’re grace-conscious, you rest in knowing God is more than enough, and His ability is flowing through you. You must choose which system you’ll live under.
2. A Complete Paradigm Shift.
Living under grace requires a complete change in how you view your relationship with God. Under The Law, the focus was on man and what man could do for God. Under grace, the focus is on God and what He has already done through Jesus.
How this applies to you:
— Your standing with God is based on Jesus’ finished work, not your daily performance. Your worst day doesn’t diminish His grace, and your best day doesn’t increase it. You are accepted in the Beloved because of what Jesus did, not because of what you do or don’t do.
— Your relationship with God is based on His goodness, not your performance.
— Grace changes how you approach every aspect of your walk with God.
— Grace-based living starts with accepting what Jesus already accomplished.
— Stop trying to earn what God has freely given.
— Under The Law, you strive to get God to move; under grace, you receive what He already provided. This means you stop begging God to do what He’s already done and start believing and receiving what Jesus already accomplished. Your prayers shift from pleading to receiving.
3. The Power Source Makes All the Difference.
Under The Law, you operate in your own strength. Under grace, you tap into God’s supernatural power. This shift in power source changes everything about how you live and serve God.
How this applies to you:
— Grace gives you access to God’s ability, not just your own.
— You don’t have to depend on your limited strength or wisdom anymore.
— Your weaknesses become opportunities for God’s strength. Every limitation in your life is an invitation for God’s grace to manifest. When you can’t, He can. When you don’t know how, He does. Your inadequacy becomes the stage for His adequacy to be displayed.
— The more you depend on grace, the more God’s power and wisdom flow because God will not compete with you. If you think, “I got it,” and then attempt to do it in your own strength, God will stand by and wait for you to yield to Him. The truth is that far too many of us struggle because there is too much of US in the way!
— God’s power flows most freely through those who know they need it. When you acknowledge your inability, you position yourself to receive His ability. This is why Paul could say, ‘When I am weak, then I am strong,’ because his weakness became the platform for God’s strength.
4. A New Motivation for Living.
Under The Law, fear and obligation drive your service to God. When I grew up in a religious church, the leaders used guilt, shame, and condemnation to guilt us to attempt to live right. And fear drove me, too, because I was afraid of going to hell. However, under grace, love and gratitude become your motivation. I don’t serve God out of guilt or fear of going to hell. I serve God out of gratitude for what Jesus did for me and for what He called me to do. This change in motivation transforms your entire relationship with God.
How this applies to you:
— You serve God because you want to, not because you have to.
— Love becomes your primary motivation, not fear.
— Your obedience flows from appreciation, not obligation.
— You live holy because you are holy, not to become holy.
— Grace makes you want to please God.
— The more you understand grace, the more you want to live for God.
— Grace produces what The Law could never accomplish. The Law could demand righteousness, but only grace can produce it. The Law could command love, but only grace can create it in your heart. What the Law requires, grace provides.
5. Freedom to Be Who God Called You to Be.
Grace liberates you to become the person God designed you to be. Under The Law, you’re trying to conform to external standards. Under grace, you’re being transformed from the inside out.
How this applies to you:
— God’s grace empowers genuine change. Grace enables authentic transformation because it works from the inside out. Instead of trying to change yourself through willpower, God’s grace changes you through His power. Real transformation happens when you stop trying to change yourself and start yielding to His grace.
— You don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not.
— Grace gives you room to grow while maintaining your acceptance.
— Your identity is secure in Christ, not in your performance.
— You can face challenges knowing grace is sufficient.
— You can be honest about your struggles without fear of rejection because grace creates a safe place for growth. Under The Law, your struggles could condemn you. Under grace, your struggles become opportunities for God’s power to be displayed in your life.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for completely shifting my understanding from The Law to grace.
I declare that under grace, my life is about what You have done, not what I must do.
I walk in the power of Your grace, no longer relying on my limited human strength.
Love and gratitude, not fear and obligation, are now my motivation for serving You.
I rest in knowing my identity is secure in Christ, not in my daily performance.
Your grace transforms me from the inside out as I yield to Your Spirit.
I live in supernatural abundance, experiencing Your overflow in every area of my life.
Your power flows freely through me as I acknowledge my need for You.
The more challenges I face, the more Your grace abounds toward me.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and prosper!
