There have been many definitions of divine grace, some old and some new. The best way to get a Biblical definition is to go straight to the original language - the Greek text. The word for grace is charis, which is defined as a literal or figurative gift or bestowal. The gift or bestowal from God to us through Jesus is the gift of his life. So as far as the gift of the grace of Jesus Christ is concerned, we are talking about none other than his life given to us, and the effect that his life has upon us. This gift of life works a divine influence upon our hearts so that we can respond effectively and completely to God. It all starts with God. He gives the grace so that we can respond to him and not only enjoy him, but let him enjoy us.

So what happens with this grace? How do we get it and what do we do with it?

For a start, it does not just float around in the air waiting to drop onto someone - It has to be ACCESSED! Divine grace is accessed by FAITH. The Bible says that '...we have access by faith into this grace where we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God...'

When we access grace through faith we simply believe that the life of Jesus has been given to us to bring a divine influence upon our hearts and to empower us to do in partnership with God what we would struggle to do on our own. We can make a choice to do something good, but we may not have the power to carry it out. I have had tasks to do that I just felt not up to being able to complete. I asked for the grace of Jesus and I felt an ease in performing what I had to do, even though I still had to put in quite a bit of effort. There was the distinct sense of being helped mightily by God to persevere and finish what I had started. The apostle Paul testifies of this in 1 Corinthians 15:10 'But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not wasted; but I labored more abundantly than the others, but it was not just me, but the grace of God which was with me.'

As stewards or managers of this grace, we are actually accountable to God to access grace. This conclusion follows from the statement made in Romans 6:14 '…for you are not under law but under grace.' Once, when God's people were under law, they were accountable to God for obeying the law. Now that we are under grace we are accountable to God to ACCESS this grace. This is not some onerous task that stifles us or takes away our freedom. Just the opposite is true. Now we have the gift of God's very life, the quality of the life that Jesus lived when he walked this earth, to energize us to do things that our hearts and our conscience tells us we ought to do. The Bible encourages us to come confidently to God and ask for grace to help in any time of need and that it will be given to us without question (Hebrews 4:16). So think of what is in front of you to have to do right now, that may be difficult for you to do in your own strength. The grace is available, so why not ask for it?