Gracious and upright is the Lord;
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.

He guides the humble in doing right
and teaches his ways to the lowly. (Psalm 25:7-8)

I once worked alongside a priest whose word was true. If she said a thing was so, it was so. I knew I could trust her guidance, and I did.

At the same time, I worked for a boss whose dedication to his job was complete. He spent extremely long hours in his office, but did not expect everyone else to copy him. He gave wise counsel that I use to this day in my work.

These people of integrity and uprightness shared another quality, and that is grace. They are both gentle, unfailingly kind, generous, and attentive.

Through Christ, we believers have come to know God as gracious. Jesus’ self-offering, so beautifully lauded in Philippians, epitomizes the love that puts others first. That love “guides the humble in doing right,” and it is a deeper kowledge of that love that we seek day by day in our prayers.