"Charis"

Charis. 

I think this is an undervalued word. We associate the word charis with grace, and when you think about grace in the right light, it’s very fitting. But charis actually means “gift.” When we say “gift,” the ancients would have said “charis.” It means the same thing.1

When you think of grace from a charis perspective, it changes the whole meaning. We like to assume grace is earned. We have to work for it in order to deserve it. When we mess up, we have to be punished before we can accept grace. Otherwise, it’s just simply too good to be true. But that isn’t God’s charis for us. He offers His grace as a gift. We don’t earn it. We don’t do anything to deserve it. We mess up, and we don’t have to punish ourselves before we can come back to Him. It’s a gift. 

“For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;”

Ephesians 2:8 AMP

Did you catch that? “Remarkable compassion and favor.” “Not through your own effort.” “Undeserved, gracious.” I love the Amplified bible because it expounds on words we often skim over. God’s grace is a gift. It’s undeserved. Remarkable. 

That’s where joy shows up. That’s where freedom sets in. We’re unhindered by the weight of having to work our way to an unreachable perfection. We’re given compassion and favor from a remarkable, gracious God. It’s totally free, and we get to live in that every day. 

Accept God’s charis. Live in joy and freedom today.

Sprinkle, “Charis,” 25.