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Thoughts for a Woman's Heart |
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encouragement in things that matter |
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Grace-Givers
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But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more ..., yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Paul said those words to the Corinthians, but I have repeated them myself many times. As grace worked a miracle in Paul’s life, so has grace worked a miracle in my own life. Grace does not accomplish something however and then stagnate; rather, it continues to flow and overflow as a life changed by grace becomes a grace-giver. As believers, we are all recipients of grace. We have received the priceless gift of salvation through absolutely no merit of our own. Unworthy and undeserving, we were chosen to be the object of a redeeming love that brought us into a relationship with the God of perfect righteousness. That’s grace. Grace has continued to flow as our Father has shaped and molded our lives. But the grace-giver allows grace to overflow, giving to the others in her life what they may not deserve. Joseph stood before his brothers, fully aware of how God’s grace had shaped and enabled his own life, and with words borne of grace, extended forgiveness for their horrendous deeds and embraced them in love. Paul labored among the Corinthians and countless others fully mindful of the death and destruction that had once been bound up in his own heart – a heart that was incredibly changed by the grace of God. We need the same testimony as Joseph or Paul. We have experienced the same grace. And we all have opportunities to be grace-givers. Your tired toddler, your demanding teenager, your friend who judged too quickly, inconsiderate co-workers – even the one who has deliberately offended. Grace repeats what wasn’t understood and says it in a different way. Grace loves the one who doesn’t seem to "fit in," accepts the petty annoyances of living in a family, and waits patiently for the aging parent who walks a little slower. Grace wraps arms of encouragement around the one who struggles with life or even temptation. With hands fresh with the blood of driven nails, Jesus spoke words of forgiveness. Grace. Can we give in part as He gave? |
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— Bev |
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