“Sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8)
“Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7)
“Live in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2)
Why this sampling of numerous New Testament verses about grace? We are “graced” people. We are saved by God’s show of grace, the sending of his beloved Son on our behalf. The hope we have for eternal life is a gift God gives us. If we understand we have been gifted with grace, we will be eager to extend grace to others.
Opportunities to give grace come up in every encounter in life. A most present and immediate application for grace is the awkwardness of emerging from COVID-19 quarantines, back into fully engaged life. Those vaccinated and ready to take off masks need to have patience and give grace to those who insist we still need to wear masks. Those not quite ready to be fully open can extend grace to people running around without masks on.
