August 19, 2023: Are You Full Of Grace?

"And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people." (Acts 6:8, ESV)

One of the marks of Stephen's life is that he was full of grace and power. He was a deacon who was full of God's ability and power. Therefore, he was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
    
How do we increase in grace? Growing in grace is all about what God is doing in us. It is His work in us that sanctifies us through and through. The more room I make for God in my life, the more of His ability/grace I possess. James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." He gives his ability to the humble.  
    
To grow in grace is to grow in our understanding of what Jesus did on the cross and through the resurrection. And, it is to grow in our appreciation of the grace we have been given. Stephen was full of grace, and the following scriptures tell us how we can grow in grace. Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew. 6:33). Paul said, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12–13). In Acts 2, "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." 

We grow in grace by seeking to know Him more.