Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Memory verse:
“Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Grace is the tangible, incontestable and irrefutable hand of God upon a person and his or her endeavours. Grace surprises its carrier and the beholders. Grace makes you a wonder. Most times, the ignorant wants to investigate the life of grace carrier and because grace cannot be understood outside grace, they conclude otherwise. For example, they concluded that Jesus was under the influence of Satan. ‭‭“…No wonder He can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” (Matt‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ NLT). Do you get worried when people make wrong conclusions about you? You don’t need to be bothered nor take offense. It’s simply that they can’t successfully investigate the grace of God at work in your life. Hallelujah!
You see, friends, grace enables you to do what you cannot do ordinarily and to do what appears to be an uncommon trend in the world. It simply makes you to do things that please God. For example, the world will wonder why a woman will choose to attend a church service shortly after bereavement. In fact, it’s a taboo to ever see the bereaved smiling or even singing praises to God. Most cases, pretentious mourners join to make it worse. Unfortunately, some believers are caught in this work of the law. You see, as long as you walk in the law, grace will not manifest. Those who walk in the law are clothed with religious spirit and they raise the tradition of men above the word of God (Mark 7:8). They may have a show of godliness but they deny its power, that is, the power of God’s grace. Such believers profess grace but they preach the law with their lifestyles. They are people who frustrate the grace of God in their lives and in others. Paul says this concerning the Macedonian brethren, “My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have shown others God’s gift of undeserved grace”. (2 Cor 8:1 CEV). The AMP puts it like this, “…we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia”. Even in the midst of their great affliction, they showed others that grace could give great joy. Grace was evident in their lives. Glory!
While God does not call you to act as a stoic, that is, a person that does not have feelings or emotions, yet He wants you to demonstrate the grace that turns weeping into joy, and that replaces ashes with beauty and mourning with the oil of joy! (Psa 30:5; Isa 60:3). He wants you to be an example to the church and to those without, of God’s grace that heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds! (Psa 147:3). The great cloud of witnesses who also have gone through your present trial expect you to allow grace to heal and settle your heart, so you will also be able to receive songs for your generations from the God who gives songs in the night! (Job 35:10). Yes, God gives songs in the times of trial, when it appears as if your whole world has collapsed! He gave it to Horatio Spafford, after losing his only son in a fire incidence and subsequently, his four daughters in a sea mishap! He wrote this hymn, “It is well with my soul”, which has brought peace to countless souls and blessed generations, out of the crucible of affliction!
Friends, don’t frustrate God’s grace. Don’t preach the law with your attitude, rather let grace help you to do what you cannot do ordinarily. Let grace heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds. Tap into the inexhaustible, amazing and the manifold grace of God and let it be evident in your life from now. Amen!

Prayer points
1. Father, please, let my life show to others and be a living evidence of the riches of Your grace in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, comfort and heal all Your children who are brokenhearted and help them to draw Your grace in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I don’t frustrate God’s grace by esteeming the tradition of men above God’s word.
2. I am conscious not to allow my lifestyle especially in trying times, to deny the power of grace.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng