Grace Revealed
- Henley Samuel
- May 23
- 4 min read
May 23, 2025
Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right but still not experiencing God's fullness in your life? Perhaps you've been faithful in prayer, consistent in church attendance, and diligent in Bible study, yet something seems missing. Today's meditation invites you into a profound truth that can revolutionize your relationship with God. We'll explore how both rebellion and religious performance can equally miss the heart of God's grace, and discover the freedom that comes when we truly understand His unmerited favor. As we journey through the parable of the prodigal son, prepare your heart to receive a fresh revelation of grace that transforms not just what you do, but who you are.
Embracing Divine Favor
Each morning brings a fresh opportunity to understand the depth of God's grace. Many of us struggle with a fundamental misunderstanding, believing we must earn what has already been freely given. Today, let's explore how grace operates in our lives and why understanding it transforms everything.
Two Paths, Same Destination
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the powerful story of two brothers who both misunderstood their father's love. The younger son pursued self-discovery through rebellion, while the elder son clung to moral conformity.
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.'" — Luke 15:28-29
The elder brother's response reveals a religious mentality that many of us fall into: "I've done this, I've been involved in ministry, I read the Bible daily, I tithe faithfully, yet I don't see results." This performance-based approach misses the heart of relationship with God.
Both brothers needed the same thing, a revelation of grace.
Beyond Performance
Have you ever noticed how new believers often experience dramatic answers to prayer? They receive healing, provision, and breakthroughs that sometimes leave long-time believers puzzled. Why does this happen?
New believers approach God with simple trust, knowing they don't deserve His goodness but believing He will help them anyway. They haven't yet developed the performance mindset that can hinder our receptivity to grace.
Grace operates most powerfully when we understand we don't deserve it but receive it anyway.
Many of us have experienced this frustration: "I've fasted, prayed, attended every service, but I'm still not healed. I still haven't received my answer." We've unknowingly shifted from relationship to transaction, from grace to works.
Grace Teaches Godliness
A common misconception is that grace gives license to sin. Scripture teaches the opposite:
"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
Grace doesn't just save us, it transforms us. It doesn't merely forgive sin; it teaches us to live differently. True grace leads to godliness, not permissiveness.
The elder brother in Jesus' parable missed this truth. He believed his moral conformity should earn his father's favor, not realizing that favor was already his as a son. He was physically in his father's house but emotionally distant, living under law rather than love.
Finding Peace in Grace
When challenges come, when doubts arise, when we feel double-minded, we need a fresh revelation of grace. Understanding grace:
Keeps us close to God
Helps us comprehend His love
Enables us to live under His favor
Releases His peace in our lives
When we trust God's plan and control in every situation, we allow His peace to operate in our lives. This peace comforts us, confirms the Holy Spirit's presence, and guides us through any challenge.
Conclusion
Both brothers in Jesus' parable needed to understand their father's grace. One thought he had to leave home to find himself; the other thought he had to earn love through service. Both missed the freely given love that was already theirs.
Which brother are you? Are you striving to earn what God has already given? Or perhaps you've wandered away, thinking God's love is conditional on your performance?
Today, embrace the revelation of grace. It's not about what you do, it's about what Jesus has done. Let this understanding transform how you approach God, yourself, and every challenge you face.
Reflect on This
How might your relationship with God change if you fully embraced His grace rather than trying to earn His favor?
In what areas of your life are you still operating under a performance mindset rather than resting in grace?
Prayer
Father, I thank You for Your grace that has appeared, bringing salvation. I declare that I am not defined by my performance but by Your love. I receive Your unmerited favor today. I rest in the finished work of Jesus, knowing I don't have to earn what You've freely given. Your grace teaches me godliness and transforms me from the inside out. I walk in the peace that comes from trusting Your plan for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Key Takeaways
Both rebellion and religious performance miss the heart of God's grace.
Grace operates most powerfully when we approach God with simple trust rather than a list of our accomplishments.
True grace doesn't give license to sin but teaches us godliness and transforms our character.
The peace of God flows when we trust His plan rather than our performance.
Salvation comes through grace by faith in Jesus, and good deeds are the fruit of salvation, not its cause.
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To dive deeper into this powerful message, watch the full sermon on our YouTube video below.
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