The Main Thing

“But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.” Acts 14:3 (NLT)

When you only have a few minutes to speak into someone’s life, you choose your words carefully. You think about what matters most. You focus on the one thing that, if remembered, could change everything.

That is exactly what Paul and Barnabas did. They had limited time in each city. There were crowds to speak to, both curious and hostile, and they never knew how long they would be welcome. But they didn’t waste time. They stayed long enough to make one message clear: the grace of the Lord.

Of all the things Paul could have taught, from his deep knowledge of the Law to his understanding of Israel’s history, he chose grace. Boldly. Consistently. Powerfully. And God confirmed that message with signs and wonders.

Grace is the main thing because it changes everything. It takes the pressure off our performance and places the focus on what Jesus has already done. Grace lifts shame, removes guilt, and restores our confidence to draw near to God. That is the message that transforms hearts. It did back then, and it still does today.

So many messages compete for our attention, but only grace can truly heal, restore, and free us. Grace does not ignore sin, but it points us to the Savior who already paid for it. Grace reminds us we are not striving for God's approval; we are living from it.

Let’s keep pointing people to the grace of Jesus. That is the main thing. And that is more than enough.

Reflection Question: Is there any area of your life where you’ve shifted your focus from God’s grace to your own effort?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your grace. Help me to stay anchored in the truth that it is not about my perfection but Your finished work. Let my life reflect Your grace in every conversation and every decision. In Jesus’ name, amen.