I have been considering the word "Grace" which is so common throughout both the Old and New Testament and yet is not a word that we often use in casual conversation, or to describe behavior between people. I found, from notes in my Bible, that the Hebrew word, Chesed, is used for grace. Chesed literally means "lovingkindness". My notes go on to say that the psalmists frequently used this word to describe God's character. I have been searching for a mental picture to associate with "grace" and I am beginning to see that grace is a word that has more than one part. Part of grace is attitude (love) and part of grace is action (kindness). As I considered the reality of grace, I thought of two other words to capture the meaning... "loving touch". One of the things we love so much about God is that He has entered our personal worlds and touched our lives. Not only has He touched us to open the gateway of faith so that we grasp His reality. He also continues to touch us for healing, for comfort, for understanding and also for discipline. I believe that grace is such a powerful concept because it captures the concept that God loves us and God also touches us. We experience God. We don't just believe in Him. I wonder what happens when we substitute the words, "loving touch" for grace in some familiar scriptures?
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace (God's loving touch) and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Acts 14: Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace (His loving touch), granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Romans 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace (experience of His loving touch) in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace (God's loving touch) abounded much more,
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace (are held in God's loving hands).
blessings to all who are experiencing God's loving touch and to all who need to find those eternal Hands,
Rob Smith
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