Grace!  In preparation for yesterdays sermon on I Corinthians 9:23, rx 25; I spent time in many of Paul’s books in the New Testament.  One clear theme is the gospel but as I mentioned – at least in first service – almost every time the word gospel appears in Paul’s writings, sovaldi the word grace is almost always present.  As I flip through my notes, I wrote down the phrase, “bought with a price, given grace freely” on several pages.  Maybe grace caught Paul’s attention because he grew up in a culture of legalism.  Before Paul met Christ his whole life was measured by his actions and since God’s standard is perfection – grace would not have been present.  For Paul, personally, the fact that Christ died for him even though he had persecuted Christ followers must have been overwhelming.

Honestly, sometimes I take God’s grace for granted.  When I stop and think of all Christ has done for me out of His grace and when I think of the price He paid – it is overwhelming.  How can I not become focused on sharing this good news (the gospel) with others as I live out the truth in my own life.

Grace! It is pretty cool.