Awake SydneySample

Who is Grace? The boys of U2 sing these words “Grace, she takes the blame. She covers the shame. Removes the stain. It could be her name. Grace, it's the name for a girl. It's also a thought that changed the world” (U2, Grace , All That You Can’t Leave Behind, Island Records, 2000). So who is Grace? A youth pastor once recalled a story of a girl who asked him “Who is Grace”? Here was a girl who had been hearing about grace, amazing grace. A girl who had been told stories by others about how they had met grace and who wondered whether or not she had met grace? As you can imagine, it was a bit of a tricky question for the youth pastor who, on the one hand found it a little comical, but on the other hand was disappointed that they hadn’t been clearer with their message of God. From a biblical perspective, we understand grace to be God’s free gift of forgiveness and eternal life made possible through Jesus. It is the means through which we get to call God ‘Father’, do good works, join with Him in His mission to seek and save the lost and cry out to Him in prayer. It is how we get back up when we fall, and know for certain our eternity will be forever with Him. A free gift. An invitation. Made available to all. What an amazing fact. God saved us by His grace. We belong to Him now and forever. I trust that the young girl I mentioned at that beginning comes to know this grace. Prayer: Thank you God for your grace. Thank you for your invitation to know you now and forever. Remind me of your grace today and show me how I can both live by and share this gift with others. Help me to know that your love is not about what I can do but about what Jesus has done. Amen Steve Dixon Youth Director - Baptist Youth Ministries [ www.baptistyouthministries.org.au ](http://www.baptistyouthministries.org.au/)