Sunday, January 23, 2011

Sunday Verses

 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10
Grace--unmerited favor--I have been thinking a lot about that word this week, what it means and why God gives it to us.  We found out this week that an acquaintance, friend, someone we have known for 10 plus years, has made a very bad choice and will have some serious repentance to do and restitution to pay.  As the news hit people in our community it was understandably met with different reactions: anger, hurt, sadness, disgust, sympathy, and, what I am choosing, grace.  Grace does not mean you condone someone's behavior, it does not mean you tell the person, "It is okay, I am sure you didn't mean to do that."  But it does mean that you extend to people what God has extended to us-- love and mercy, no matter what the sin. 

Some people were surprised to learn that I had reached out to this woman, had let her know I was praying for her and her family.  My response was that we all need grace, that we all are sinners.  I wanted my friend to know that there was nothing so horrible that God would not forgive and that although it would be a long hard road, redemption was available to her. 

Please don't think I am sharing this to say, "Aren't I wonderful, I gave someone grace?"  I am sharing it to say I am thankful each day for the grace God gives this sinner and I am thankful that because of Him, I can extend that to others.  Does someone in your life need grace?  Are you in need of God's grace today?  It is
available to you now for the asking!

3 comments:

  1. I've been following you for awhile but this is my first comment. Thank you for the post.
    Grace is so freely given to us by GOD why do we at times refuse to give grace to others? A beautiful and meaningul post that we all need to read and really think about.

    Janis
    Grandmommy's Blessings

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!