As I am
challenged periodically to confront my own tendency to be more of a recipient
and consumer of Grace, I am reminded that Grace must be, and indeed IS a two-way
street. Though we may tend to focus on being a Grace recipient, the fact
is the Grace God gives to us is not entirely for
us alone, but is largely intended to flow through us to other ‘Grace-needers’
along our path. Grace-needers are especially people who do not know God through
Christ at all, and those who know Him, but whose faith may be too weak to
access more of God’s Grace directly. Our tendency to store up His offerings in
our ‘Grace vaults’ effectively robs a needful world of this tremendous resource
and power.
Rather than
stored in vaults of our hearts and minds, consider an alternative mental image
of God’s Grace intent -- like a drip irrigation hose through which pressurized
water flows and drips out through various spaghetti-like feeders, to thirsty
plants along the path of the hose. Rather than focusing on getting the
Grace we need to get through tough situations, this picture changes our focus
to becoming ‘Grace conduits’. A
conduit never has to worry about getting more and retaining a stock of
that which flows through it. It simply receives, transmits, and drips out that
which its master feeds to and through it.
Four times, God’s
Word underscores, ‘The just shall live by His faith.’ In another post (http://jwootenjr.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-just-shall-live-by-grace.html) I interpolate this as ‘The just
shall live by Grace’, since faith is the means by which we gain access to God’s
Grace power to live lives pleasing to Him.
The Christian
reformation, ignited by Martin Luther in Germany in the 18th century
and greatly expanded by more recent insights into God’s Word, has adjusted our
focus on the need to please God through a life lived by faith. Considerable emphases
have been placed on the scriptural ‘policies,
procedures and practices’ of living by faith. But along with more
Christians endeavoring to live by faith come clashes and confrontations on what
faith ‘looks like’. This could easily happen when the intensified focus on faith
is not balanced with an appropriate accent on God’s Grace, which faith is
designed to access, receive, utilize and transmit.
Yea, its by our faith we righteous shall live,
But our faith is known by the Grace we give…
The Lord planted 2 Corinthians 1:2-4 in my heart years ago. From that day, any one I meet, I try to extend the grace of God (comfort) to them. Many times, all most people want is an listening ear. Since I know God listens to me, I take the time to listen to some one as they pour out to me, then I take that individual to God. I want to let people know that they are loved dearly by God, regardless of what may be happening in their life. If we as Saints can't do the comforting, who will? Since God has comforted me many, many times, it is my upper most desire to comfort some one else (show God's undeserved favor). We just may be the only Bible most people may read.
ReplyDeleteGrace @ Peace!
Beautifully expressed. Thank you.
DeleteI trust this scenario will continually be beautifully lived out in your life, and be an even greater example to others.
Beautiful thoughts and encouragement from J! and Anonymous--thank you. I love to ponder 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4 and ask how I am measuring up--still lots of improvement needed, but through His grace, God is helping me. Like grace and faith, charity is an infinitely renewable resource that God bestows on us and helps us give to others as we seek to follow Him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this feedback, Bruce and Mary Lee.
DeleteGod is Love. We are a progressive work of Love, what Paul calls 'His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus'. (Ephesians 2:10) Therefore, I embrace 1 Corinthians 13 as a picture first of God, Himself, and secondly, as the highest height of His works in us, not our work in us, lest any seeds of pride take root and bear their fruit in our lives. His work in us is exactly that, His work. Our assignment is to submit to His working out of us that which He has placed in us, and to walk by faith in those good works He has placed in our life paths. (Ephesians 2:10)
In a sense, I hope this relieves any sense of pressure to measure up, as it's really all about Him, not our efforts. A seed planted in the soil can only submit and allow the soil to do its work, which is to reveal to the world above the fruit of the DNA God put in the seed. The imprint of His DNA is within us believers. The world is our 'soil'. Our faith is our submission. His fruit will be revealed in due time.
Yes, you articulate an important truth to remember--and it does bring a feeling of relief!
ReplyDeleteEssentially our part is to align our desires and actions with His will and teachings, so that we can sense the impressions of His Spirit, speak words of comfort and truth, seek to help our neighbors (at all levels--family, community, internationally) in their growth and challenges, and be witnesses of Jesus Christ at all times.
We shun pride and instead point others to Him rather than ourselves.
He is the Source of comfort and grace, yet He chooses to work through us to bless others, weak as we are, because He loves us and nurtures our growth.
Mary Lee