John 1 : 17 " For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"
Have you ever experienced a "Grace Period" in your life? A grace period is "a period of time after a deadline for an obligation, during which a late fee or other action that would have been taken as a result of failing to meet the deadline is waived. Grace periods can range from a number of minutes to a number of days and even longer".
In the world's system, payment is eventually due. In God's system, a grace period is when penalty's are completely waived! How many of you, now be honest, have ever needed to rely on a grace period to pay your bill, a loan, etc.? Or a grace period to finish that college term paper or some other assignment? Grace periods are there to take the pressure off so that you can get that thing done without the stress and pressure of paying a penalty, or being punished for not meeting your obligation on time.
In John chapter 1:17, it tells us that we are now living in a time period where God is not forcing us to pay penalties, to pay extra, to do penance, to meet deadlines. In Luke 2:14,the heavenly choir of angels began praising God, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men"! This announcement was a declaration of a new period, a new day, a new season of the grace of God! It's awesome, a great time to be alive. In Luke 2:10, this good news brings great joy. Under grace you'll have more joy than you can imagine, Hallelujah!
WHY? Because you don't have to pay for your sins, you don't have to live with regret, you don't have to live a life that's under pressure of being punished or paying extra for your faults, a life that's waiting for the "next shoe to drop". We are in the greatest time in history, the "age of grace"...a grace period, where favor is given without working for it, without earning it. With "open doors" of great opportunity that we didn't even ask for.
Jesus said it's a time when the free favors of the Lord profusely abound, a flash flood of God's goodness immersing us in a life of fulfillment. So thank God today for the "nearly too good to be true news", the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for living in His grace period every day!