Grace

At church on Sunday there was a talk given centered on the subject of grace.  The speaker made some really good points that have had me thinking all week long.  I decided that what I needed was a better understanding of the word grace.

Grace: divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

A story was shared of a three year old girl.  She wanted so badly to help her mother bring the groceries in from the car.  Her ultimate goal was to carry in the milk jug.  After several failed attempts the mother picked up the little girl and the milk and hauled them into the house.  The girl exclaimed loudly to her father, "look what I have done all by myself!"  Oh how very often, I have realized, I pronounce the exact same thing.  Truth be told there is very little we can do without the grace of Christ.  It is only through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that any of us really accomplish anything.  Through faith in His atonement and repentance we each receive the divine assistance necessary to do good.  Grace is an enabling power that allows each of us to grasp on to that all desirable reward of eternal life.  However, grace alone is not sufficient.  It is required that each recipient gives there best effort.  "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" 2 Nephi 25: 23.