"What has thou that thou did not receive? Now, if thou did receive it, why does thou glory as if thou had not received it?" 1 Cor. 4:7      

This is a great verse written under the anointing and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It also serves as a wonderful introduction regarding the doctrine of grace. As believers we've all experienced what is referred to as saving grace. It is the grace of God which allows us to be saved, to be renewed and to be regenerated in the image of God.       There is more to grace than merely saving grace. Common grace is defined as "the grace of God whereby He gives people innumerable blessings that are not port of salvation." The term common lets us know these blessings are common to all people everywhere and are not restricted only to believers.      

The air we breathe, the world we live in, the food we eat, the clothes we ware, the homes we dwell in, the prosperity we enjoy- all of it is a direct result of God's common grace. Scripture says that naked we came into this world and it also tells us that naked we will leave. Everything good that we have and every positive experience we get the privilege of enjoying in life is all a result of grace.  I once heard that everything beyond Hell is evidence of grace. In light of the holiness and purity of God and the sinfulness of every man, the only thing we truly deserve is eternal punishment and heartache. In light of this, we can immediately see abundant evidence of God's grace in thousands of examples in everyday life.       

Christian friends, God brought us to faith in His son, He gave us what we have by way of earthly possessions. "Whatever is under the whole heaven in Mine" says God in Job 41:11  What we are and have is purely by the grace of God.  

Bought with thy holy, precious blood, I am no longer mine. Then take my life, blest Son of God, As Thine and only Thine.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - A man may have too much money or too much honor, but he cannot have too much GRACE.