Focus: The Charm Of Grace

Text: Lk.2:52

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MAN."

The child Jesus increased in favor with God and with man. As He was growing up He was glowing with grace. God was drawn to Him as well as men. He exuded the charm and aura of grace, so much that God and men took notice of, and identified with Him. Luke says, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him" (Lk.2:40). He carried and exuded grace. The child grew physically. The child waxed strong in spirit - spiritually. The child was filled with wisdom - mentally. And the grace of God was all over Him. He had on Him the charm of grace. Belief and behavior corresponded in Him. His character was tempered by grace.

The grace of God makes us spiritually elegant and morally beautiful. Divine grace integrates belief and behavior, creed and conduct, doctrine and demeanor in our lives. Grace produces in us a disposition of the soul that makes for an elegant personality. People are attracted by graceful individuals. People of grace are humble and grateful. Luke tells us that "Mary found favor with God" (Lk.1:30). That is the starting point. Favor with God results in people favoring us. Dan.1:9 says, "Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs." God put on Daniel the charm of grace. Act.2:47 tells us that the believers of the 1st Century church were "having favour with all the people." The grace of God in a man's life will result in people loving him. 

By reason of God's grace, the vertical and the horizontal connect together in the life of a person. Stephen tells us about Joseph, that God "delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house" (Act.7:10). The grace of God on Joseph charmed Pharaoh and that led to a change of story for him.

Grace attracts. Grace is winsome. Grace smells good and draws people to you. Grace glows on those who possess it.

In Proverbs 1:9 and 4:9, grace is described as an ornament. Grace is a thing of beauty. Grace makes room for you in the lives of other people. They accept and love you. I pray that we grow in favor not only with God, but also with men!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter