THURSDAY, 21 AUGUST 2025 THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS LIVES IN THIS WORLD Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many - Hebrews 12:13-14 It’s possible for a Christian to fall short of the grace of God. When we persist in sin, we fall short of God’s grace and it ceases to work in our lives. Ephesians 2:8 says, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.’ When we first came to Christ, we exercised faith in God’s word and we were delivered from sin and death by receiving eternal life. That’s the grace of God. Now that we’re saved by grace through faith, we need to continue to live by faith in God’s word. Romans 5:2 says, ‘By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.’ Faith in God’s word gives us access to God’s grace. The more faith we exercise, the more grace we have access to. Titus 2:11-12 says, ‘For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.’ The grace of God teaches us to say, ‘No,’ to sin. The grace of God gives us the power to live holy and godly lives in this present world. Romans 5:20 says, ‘But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.’ God’s grace is greater than your sin. God has far more grace than you have the capacity to sin. God’s grace has the ability to deliver you from sin, no matter how deep, extreme, or for how long you have been trapped in it. However, the only way we can access that grace, is by faith. Romans 14:23b says, ‘...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.’ Anything that is not of faith is sin. Faith always has good works. If we don’t walk by faith, we will always find ourselves in sin. 2 Peter 3:11 says, ‘Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives, as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.’ From the word of God, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back to judge everyone according to their works. If we believe this, we should then live holy and righteous lives, lest we be destroyed with the wicked. 1 Peter 1:17 says, ‘And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:’ We must pass our time here on earth with the fear of the Lord. That’s our faith response. If we truly believe that the Lord is near, we should live holy and godly lives out of fear of judgment. When we do so, God supplies the grace for us to live in holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. CONFESSION I have faith in the grace of God. As a result, I have the ability to live a godly and righteous life in this world. Glory to God! https://www.facebook.com/100068613729631/posts/pfbid0WtzzbcR27PZJPsXAfh35VUiM2KRgf2UAzEZs5KWEsxorPKngt7xXF4m5fDN4VaA5l/