April 20

Life Abundant: Grace Abounding

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! — Rom 5:17 BSB

Notice the word Receive! We first receive forgiveness or reconciliation, then an abundance of grace (Romans 5:11-17). We cannot earn or merit either one; all we have to do is accept what God offers, through an act of will that embraces and appropriates it. If people are lost, it is not because God withholds grace, but because they refuse to receive it, even though it is freely offered through the second Adam, Jesus Christ. We must believe we have received, even when we don’t feel any immediate difference (John 1:12). It is a blessing to receive grace, especially when we feel low and out of sorts, trusting that He is at work in us, even when we don’t feel it.

There is no limit to God's supply—it abounds! The Apostle uses this word repeatedly, which literally means "overflowing" (Romans 5:15, 17, 20). The result of receiving from God's fullness is that we reign in life—not only in the future, but now. We can live a royal, triumphant life, victorious over sin and sharing the unsearchable riches of Christ with others.

This victorious life is available to everyone. God wants you to enter into it, and He has made every provision for you to do so. The only thing you must do is receive the abundance of His grace and the gift of righteousness. Open your heart to Him, and He will fill it. Dare to believe that He has filled you, even if you don’t feel it yet, and go forward to live a royal life, distributing the blessings of His grace!

However, we must give as God gives to us. As we pour out in love, service, forgiveness, and patience, God will pour more of His grace into us. Only then will He trust us with even more of His fullness.

Prayer

For souls redeemed, for sins forgiven; For means of grace, and hopes of heaven, Father, what can we give to You, Who gives us everything? Amen.