GRACE,
APPRECIATION OF

WHEN a person truly understands that oxygen is a gift, they will not smoke. If a person comprehends that good health is a gift, they are not going to abuse drugs. When a Christian understands that grace is a gift of God, they will make the choice to say no to wrong and yes to right. If a Christian loses sight of grace, then they become irresponsible with the life given to them by God.425

[Life, Management of; Self-Sufficiency, Danger of]

Rom. 6:1; 2 Cor. 5:7

PEOPLE who love old westerns remember the old movie with Gary Cooper called The Hanging Tree. Gary Cooper is a doctor and he saves people’s lives. In one scene, a young man gets shot; he’s dying. Gary Cooper goes in and he pulls out the bullet and is able to save the man’s life. The man, grateful for having been rescued, asks what he can do for the doctor. Gary Cooper says, “Well, you know, I’ve always needed an assistant, so why don’t you assist me. I’ll teach you what to do.” When the young man asked how long the doctor wanted his help, Gary Cooper replies, “For the rest of your life because that’s how long you would have been dead if I hadn’t saved you.”

God has said to you and me this is what He wants. For the rest of your life on earth, since He saved you, He wants you to yield yourself to His purposes, to His pleasure, and to His goals.426

[Salvation, Cost of; Salvation, Gratefulness for]

Eph. 2:10