It strikes me that it is impossible to say, concerning the elect, when the Grace of God begins to deal with them. You can tell when the quickening Grace comes, but not when the Grace, itself, comes. According to that teaching, Divine Grace is given to men as a tool with which they are to work, not as a seal which God sets upon a man, Grace is subservient to man, he is not subservient to Grace.
The blessings of salvation are freely given us of God, therefore they are not a loan, handed to us for a time and to be one day recalled. My text speaks of the gifts of God freely given to us and of the way by which we may receive them and come to know their excellence and value, in all these three things it shows us that everything is of Divine Grace, it is given of Grace, it is received through Grace, it is understood by Grace. If it were of works, it would not be of Divine Grace. But it is of faith, that it might be of Divine Grace alone.
All along, from sin's pit to Heaven's gate, without a break the whole road is paved with Divine Grace. So it is that we are often compelled to say, as we look back upon marvelous Providences and Divine interpositions, "Truly, by the Grace of God we are what we are, and by that Grace, alone, have we been preserved from falling into sin." Even there must you give all the glory to that Divine Grace which, having been the Alpha, will also be the Omega, which, having been the beginning, will also be the end.
And when the Lord sets poor souls at liberty, He always sends them away full-handed. He gives something from the flock, from the threshing floor and from the winepress. There is Divine work always going on before God's people, His shield always goes in front, His sword always cuts and clears the way and we have but to follow where He leads. Still, we are not to be idle, for we have next a Divine command. He shall thrust out our enemies, but He will also say, "Destroy them." We have to take God's Word and to be obedient to it in the future.
Sin did us untold damage, but Grace has given us more than sin ever took away! Sin robbed us of silver, but Grace has given us gold! Let us live so that all may see how Grace abounds in us and let us help to spread the wondrous story of what this Grace has done for us, that others may seek that Grace for themselves, that Grace which abounds to the chief of sinners, that Grace which is the portion of all who believe in Jesus. Such is the grace of God. It does not visit us because we ask it, much less, because we deserve it; but as God wills it, and the bottles of heaven are unstopped, so God wills it, and grace descends.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. 
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