Re - Engage Day 4 - Grace
Giving What We Have Received
Main Passage
Colossians 3:12-17
Supporting Passages
Matthew 18:21-35
Psalm 103:8-12
Key Verse
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
— Colossians 3:13
Opening Thought
Every marriage is made up of two imperfect people.
That means every marriage will require grace.
Not occasionally.
Daily. No matter how much two people love one another, there will be moments of disappointment. Moments of misunderstanding. Moments of selfishness. Moments when we fail to love one another as we should. Over time, if those hurts are not addressed, they begin to accumulate. A careless comment. A broken promise.
A forgotten responsibility. An unresolved conflict.
A lingering disappointment.
Left unattended, these things can slowly harden our hearts.
But God offers another way.
The way of grace.
Grace is receiving something we do not deserve.
As followers of Christ, we have received immeasurable grace.
The gospel reminds us that God did not give us what our sins deserved. Instead, He gave us forgiveness, mercy, and restoration through Jesus Christ.
The same grace we have received is the grace we are called to extend.
Not because forgiveness is easy.
Not because hurt doesn't matter.
But because Christ has forgiven us.
Today is an invitation to release what you've been carrying and make room for healing.
Individual Reflection Time
Find a quiet place by yourself.
Read Colossians 3:12-17 slowly.
Then read Psalm 103:8-12.
Ask God to search your heart.
Reflect honestly on the following questions:
Couple Discussion
Come back together and discuss the following questions.
Approach this conversation gently.
The goal is not to revisit old battles.
The goal is healing.
Listen with compassion.
Speak with humility.
Respond with grace.
Devotional Thought
Paul tells believers to "clothe yourselves" with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love.
Think about that image.
Every morning we intentionally choose what we will wear.
In the same way, God calls us to intentionally put on grace.
The truth is that every marriage will face moments of hurt.
The question is not whether offenses will come.
The question is what we will do when they do.
Many marriages become trapped in one of two unhealthy extremes.
Some couples keep score.
Every mistake is remembered.
Every offense is recorded.
Every failure is stored away for future use.
Other couples avoid difficult conversations altogether.
The hurt remains, but it is buried beneath the surface.
Neither approach leads to healing.
Biblical forgiveness is different.
Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt didn't happen.
Forgiveness is not excusing sin.
Forgiveness is not ignoring healthy boundaries.
Forgiveness is choosing to release your right to revenge and entrust justice to God.
Forgiveness says:
"I will not allow this hurt to control my heart."
Forgiveness says:
"I choose grace because Christ has shown grace to me."
The gospel is our model.
God knows every failure.
Every mistake.
Every sin.
Yet through Jesus, He offers mercy.
Psalm 103 tells us that God removes our sins as far as the east is from the west.
What an incredible picture.
God does not keep bringing up forgiven sins.
He does not keep a running record of our failures.
Instead, He offers grace.
Marriage becomes strongest when grace becomes the atmosphere of the relationship.
A marriage without grace becomes a courtroom.
A marriage filled with grace becomes a place of healing.
The goal is not perfection.
The goal is progress.
And progress requires grace.
Prayer Together
Main Passage
Colossians 3:12-17
Supporting Passages
Matthew 18:21-35
Psalm 103:8-12
Key Verse
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
— Colossians 3:13
Opening Thought
Every marriage is made up of two imperfect people.
That means every marriage will require grace.
Not occasionally.
Daily. No matter how much two people love one another, there will be moments of disappointment. Moments of misunderstanding. Moments of selfishness. Moments when we fail to love one another as we should. Over time, if those hurts are not addressed, they begin to accumulate. A careless comment. A broken promise.
A forgotten responsibility. An unresolved conflict.
A lingering disappointment.
Left unattended, these things can slowly harden our hearts.
But God offers another way.
The way of grace.
Grace is receiving something we do not deserve.
As followers of Christ, we have received immeasurable grace.
The gospel reminds us that God did not give us what our sins deserved. Instead, He gave us forgiveness, mercy, and restoration through Jesus Christ.
The same grace we have received is the grace we are called to extend.
Not because forgiveness is easy.
Not because hurt doesn't matter.
But because Christ has forgiven us.
Today is an invitation to release what you've been carrying and make room for healing.
Individual Reflection Time
Find a quiet place by yourself.
Read Colossians 3:12-17 slowly.
Then read Psalm 103:8-12.
Ask God to search your heart.
Reflect honestly on the following questions:
- Is there any hurt, disappointment, or resentment I have been holding onto?
- Have I been extending grace to my spouse the way God extends grace to me?
- Is there something I need to confess?
- Is there someone I need to forgive?
- What makes it difficult for me to offer forgiveness?
- Where do I need God's healing in my heart?
- What would freedom look like in this area?
Couple Discussion
Come back together and discuss the following questions.
Approach this conversation gently.
The goal is not to revisit old battles.
The goal is healing.
- What helps you feel loved when you make a mistake?
- When conflict happens, what helps you feel understood?
- Is there anything we need to work through together?
- How do you best receive an apology?
- Is there a hurt we need to release today?
- What does grace look like in this season of our marriage?
- How can we create a culture of forgiveness in our home?
Listen with compassion.
Speak with humility.
Respond with grace.
Devotional Thought
Paul tells believers to "clothe yourselves" with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love.
Think about that image.
Every morning we intentionally choose what we will wear.
In the same way, God calls us to intentionally put on grace.
The truth is that every marriage will face moments of hurt.
The question is not whether offenses will come.
The question is what we will do when they do.
Many marriages become trapped in one of two unhealthy extremes.
Some couples keep score.
Every mistake is remembered.
Every offense is recorded.
Every failure is stored away for future use.
Other couples avoid difficult conversations altogether.
The hurt remains, but it is buried beneath the surface.
Neither approach leads to healing.
Biblical forgiveness is different.
Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt didn't happen.
Forgiveness is not excusing sin.
Forgiveness is not ignoring healthy boundaries.
Forgiveness is choosing to release your right to revenge and entrust justice to God.
Forgiveness says:
"I will not allow this hurt to control my heart."
Forgiveness says:
"I choose grace because Christ has shown grace to me."
The gospel is our model.
God knows every failure.
Every mistake.
Every sin.
Yet through Jesus, He offers mercy.
Psalm 103 tells us that God removes our sins as far as the east is from the west.
What an incredible picture.
God does not keep bringing up forgiven sins.
He does not keep a running record of our failures.
Instead, He offers grace.
Marriage becomes strongest when grace becomes the atmosphere of the relationship.
A marriage without grace becomes a courtroom.
A marriage filled with grace becomes a place of healing.
The goal is not perfection.
The goal is progress.
And progress requires grace.
Prayer Together