Written by volunteers with Iron Rose Sister Ministries Crismarie Rivas (daughter) in Ecuador, and Johanna Zabala (mother) in Venezuela
When we talk about grace in relationships, we focus on personal, family, work, social, and friendship areas, immediately connecting them to the precious spiritual aspect because, as we know, grace would not be grace if it had not been given by God.
A clear example in scripture is the apostle Paul, who, through the Holy Spirit, speaks to the church in Ephesus and to us today, affirming that "by grace we have been saved" (Eph. 2:1-10 NKJV).
This shows us the free and undeserved favor that comes from the love and will of God toward every human being on the face of the earth. Also, it carries a series of unique characteristics of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: His love, goodness, compassion, consideration, and mercy shown to each of us.
Today, we live in a society that little knows the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. Because of this, there is very little grace in the world's relationships.
However, for each of us as daughters of God and knowing His will through His grace given through His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to demonstrate grace in relationships, especially in the family of faith. This encompasses everything: love, kindness, compassion, consideration, and mercy.
These are key elements to a genuinely gracious, single-minded relationship with Christ. This relationship leads us to practice the direct command to love one another, as indicated in 1 John 4:7, and links us to obedience to God.
To this effect, the grace of God is a divine and wonderful gift that gives us love, forgiveness, and strength to foster understanding, reconciliation, and spiritual growth that unites us powerfully.
The Bible repeatedly teaches about the application of grace in our relationships. Going back to Ephesians 1:6-7 (NKJV), we are reminded, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he has made us accepted in the Beloved, in Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." This tells us that the grace of God accepts us as we are and frees us from the burden of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Likewise, grace precedes forgiveness and reconciliation. "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Col. 3:13).
Grace calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us. By forgiving, we immediately open the door to reconciliation and maturity in each of our relationships. First Corinthians 13:4-7 beautifully tells us,
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
So, it is great to recognize that grace enables us to be patient and tolerant in all our relationships, reflecting God's love in our conduct and actions. And it is here when grace becomes selfless service, a unique and holy act frees us to serve others with love without expecting anything in return, following the faithful example of the beloved Jesus.
Finally, grace also allows for edifying communication. Ephesians 4:29 reaffirms, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Sanctifying grace is also manifested in the way we communicate. As women of God, when we edify and encourage each other with our words, we show grace to those who listen to us.
In conclusion, beloved sisters, God's grace is essential in every healthy and fruitful relationship. There is an indisputable need to apply it in our personal, family, and spiritual interactions so that we can all experience the fullness of love and peace that comes from God. From now on, may this exclusive favor from the Heavenly Father inspire us to live in grace and to always reflect it in each of our relationships. Let us ask ourselves daily, “Does the grace of the Holy Spirit accompany us and unify us all the time?”