Reflections On Grace (Year Ending Sermon)

Reflections on Grace

Introduction:

Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining me today for this special sermon as we bid farewell to this year and welcome the new one. As we reflect on the past twelve months, we may have experienced many joys and sorrows, successes and failures, blessings and challenges. But through it all, there is one thing that remains constant: God's grace. Grace is God's unmerited favor and love for us, His children. Grace is what saves us, sustains us, and transforms us. Grace is what enables us to live a life of faith, hope, and love. Today, I want to share with you four reflections on grace that I hope will encourage you and inspire you to grow in your relationship with God and with others.

1. Mirrors of Mercy: Recognizing God's Hand at Work (Psalm 139:14)

The first reflection is about how we can see God's grace in ourselves. We are created by God in His image and likeness, and He has a wonderful plan and purpose for our lives. Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." God has given us gifts and talents, abilities and opportunities, to serve Him and glorify Him. He has also given us His Spirit, who guides us, teaches us, and empowers us. God's grace is at work in us, making us more like Jesus, the perfect reflection of God's glory.

But sometimes, we may not see ourselves as God sees us. We may focus on our flaws and failures, our sins and shortcomings, our doubts and fears. We may feel unworthy, unloved, or unwanted. We may compare ourselves to others and feel inferior or inadequate. We may forget who we are and whose we are. We may lose sight of God's grace in our lives.

That is why we need to look at ourselves as mirrors of mercy. A mirror reflects what is in front of it, but it also shows what is behind it. When we look at ourselves, we should not only see our human condition, but also God's divine compassion. We should not only see our problems, but also God's promises. We should not only see our weaknesses, but also God's strength. We should not only see our past, but also God's future. We should not only see ourselves, but also God in us. We should see ourselves as mirrors of mercy, reflecting God's grace to ourselves and to others.

Story: A young woman named Anna was struggling with low self-esteem and depression. She felt ugly, worthless, and hopeless. She hated herself and wanted to end her life. One day, she decided to go to a nearby church and pray. As she entered the sanctuary, she saw a large cross on the wall, with a mirror behind it. She walked up to the cross and looked at the mirror. She expected to see her sad and miserable face, but instead, she saw something else. She saw Jesus on the cross, bleeding and dying for her. She saw His love and sacrifice for her. She saw His grace and mercy for her. She saw herself in Him, and Him in her. She realized that she was not alone, that she was not worthless, that she was not hopeless. She realized that she was loved, that she was precious, that she had a purpose. She realized that she was a mirror of mercy, reflecting God's grace to herself and to others. She broke down in tears and thanked God for His amazing grace.

Application: How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as God sees you? Do you see yourself as a mirror of mercy? Do you see God's grace in your life? Do you praise God for creating you, for saving you, for changing you? Do you use your gifts and talents, your abilities and opportunities, to serve God and glorify Him? Do you allow God's Spirit to guide you, teach you, and empower you? Do you reflect God's grace to yourself and to others? If not, ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you, as a mirror of mercy, reflecting His grace to the world.

2. Learning from Mistakes, Embracing Forgiveness (Micah 7:18)

The second reflection is about how we can see God's grace in our mistakes. We are not perfect, and we make mistakes. We sin against God and against others. We disobey God's commands and ignore His will. We hurt ourselves and hurt others. We fall short of God's standards and expectations. We need God's grace to forgive us, to heal us, and to restore us. Micah 7:18 says, "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy." God is a God of grace, who loves us unconditionally and forgives us completely. He does not hold our sins against us, but casts them into the depths of the sea. He does not treat us as our sins deserve, but treats us as His beloved children. He does not remember our sins, but remembers His covenant. He does not stay angry with us, but delights to show us mercy.