Have you ever been playing a game of tag on the playground and accidentally knocked someone over, or accidentally broke your sibling’s favorite toy? In that exact moment, your heart drops into your stomach, and you feel super nervous waiting to see how mad they’re going to get. When we mess up, we usually expect to get yelled at, punished, or left out of the fun.
Instead of giving us what we deserve when we mess up, God does something totally unexpected—He gives us grace! Grace is a fancy word for getting a gift or kindness that we didn’t earn and don’t deserve. When we build a Bible grid for our lives, Grace is one of the most amazing rocks of all. God doesn’t shame us or make us feel bad when we make mistakes; instead, He forgives us and wraps us up in His super big love!
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Because Jesus gives us a giant bucket of grace every day, He expects us to pass that grace along to the people around us! Giving grace in real life means being kind and forgiving when someone else messes up or hurts your feelings. It looks like saying “It’s okay, I forgive you!” when a classmate spills water on your drawing, or choosing not to yell when a teammate drops the ball during gym class.
Here is a total life hack for your heart: whenever someone bugs you or makes a mistake, pause and ask yourself, “If I got grace from God, how can I give grace right now?” Choosing forgiveness instead of staying mad is how you win at life! Let’s make it our mission this week to show Jesus’ love by being super quick to give grace to everyone we meet!
Talk About It
- What is the coolest surprise gift or treat you have ever received that you totally didn’t expect?
- What is our main Bible verse for today, and where can you find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a time you messed up big time, but someone showed you unexpected grace and forgiveness instead of getting mad?
- When a friend or sibling is mean to you or breaks your stuff, why is it so hard to give them grace, and how can Jesus help you forgive them anyway?
- What is one practical way your family can practice “giving grace” to each other at home whenever someone makes a mistake this week?