“Use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s variegated grace, in manifold forms” (1Pet.4:10). “Season your words with grace. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out” (Col. 4:6).
Dear Jesus, we say it way too glibly—”I’ve be saved by God’s grace through faith—from beginning to end.” But that’s the most revolutionary, liberating, peace-giving, hope-fueling affirmation we can make. Hallelujah!
Our works could have never saved us, but you did save us unto a life of good works—of grace-works (Eph.2:8-10). We know the Gospel put an end to all earning, but not to all effort. As you have “graced” us, so you call us to “grace” others. Here are 7 grace-works we ask you to help us with this week.
- Take care of yourself: Preach the Gospel to yourself daily, seeking to “dazzle” your heart with Jesus, by feasting at the buffet of his grace. That way we’ll have copious grace to share with others.
- Bring your friends, family, and co-workers to the throne of grace daily, or at least spontaneously. It’s hard to maintain “irritable heart syndrome” towards someone we’re consistently bringing to Jesus.
- Catch each other “doing it right”, not just “doing it wrong”. Encouragement is Miracle-Grow fertilizer yielding fruit today and for eternity. We’ll never over-encourage, but we over-criticize way too often.
- Proactively, invest emotional cash in relationships so when withdrawals are made, there’s actually a balance to draw on. Conflict is inevitable, but redemptive conflict requires “grace in the tank.”
- Overlook as much as you can, without falling into denial or reinforcing foolishness.
- Be the first person in your relationships to repent—that is, the first to get humble, own “stuff,” and “make it right.”
- Outdo one another in kindness, assuming the best of each other, and speaking “body-language-grace” better than most.
SO VERY AMEN