Together # 25
A Together that Strengthens
A Together that Strengthens
Administer God’s Grace to One Another
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Show one another undeserved love and unmerited favor. Also, let your spiritual gifts flow out for the good of the church.
Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:7; Heb 12:15; l Peter 4:1
How would you like to be in the employ of a billionaire with the task of giving out money to those who asked for help as well as those you discovered could use funds? Wouldn’t that be sweet!
But, you are. Only it’s not cash but grace that you would be giving out. And not for a measly billionaire, but for God! To those who ask for His help or He knows of their need.
Administering God’s grace to one another in heaven will be one of the very most important jobs the Lord has for us there. Most of the Togethers will disappear in the absence of sin in heaven, but God’s grace will grow and this Together will blossom.
It is a very high privilege to help other Christians fully grasp, appreciate, and enjoy all the many aspects of God grace. Therefore, we need to understand as best we can what grace is, knowing that it is far more expansive and wonderful than we can imagine.
No definition can encompass the whole of God’s grace. But the best and grandest part of God’s grace is the salvation He gives us through the sacrifice of His Son for our redemption. What is more undeserved than that love we have received with its gifts of justification, sanctification and glorification? From rescue from the dominion of sin and evil to eternal residency in heaven, this loving act of undeserved love and unmerited favor is the most wonderful gift we will ever receive. Such grace!
Yet, God tells us to make sure that we help one another take in as much of His loving grace as we can.
But, you are. Only it’s not cash but grace that you would be giving out. And not for a measly billionaire, but for God! To those who ask for His help or He knows of their need.
Administering God’s grace to one another in heaven will be one of the very most important jobs the Lord has for us there. Most of the Togethers will disappear in the absence of sin in heaven, but God’s grace will grow and this Together will blossom.
It is a very high privilege to help other Christians fully grasp, appreciate, and enjoy all the many aspects of God grace. Therefore, we need to understand as best we can what grace is, knowing that it is far more expansive and wonderful than we can imagine.
No definition can encompass the whole of God’s grace. But the best and grandest part of God’s grace is the salvation He gives us through the sacrifice of His Son for our redemption. What is more undeserved than that love we have received with its gifts of justification, sanctification and glorification? From rescue from the dominion of sin and evil to eternal residency in heaven, this loving act of undeserved love and unmerited favor is the most wonderful gift we will ever receive. Such grace!
Yet, God tells us to make sure that we help one another take in as much of His loving grace as we can.
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God . . . .
Heb 12:15
Heb 12:15
We must not interpret this verse to mean saving grace, for the book of Hebrews is instructing those who already possess eternal life in Jesus Christ. Therefore, the grace that we are to make certain is not missed encompasses every aspect of God’s love bestowed on us, all of which we do not deserve. We have not merited it by our own effort, but receive grace just because God loves us, because we believe in Jesus and He lives in us.
For this reason, we will consider grace to be “undeserved love from God”, which covers everything. It includes innumerable blessings as well as the undeserved privileges of worship, obedience, and service.
In administering God’s grace, we have the wonderful opportunity to see that Christians recognize and receive God’s grace day by day. This is the way to “see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God”.
Grace is so important that 17 of the 21 letters in the New Testament begin with some form of greeting that includes grace.
For this reason, we will consider grace to be “undeserved love from God”, which covers everything. It includes innumerable blessings as well as the undeserved privileges of worship, obedience, and service.
In administering God’s grace, we have the wonderful opportunity to see that Christians recognize and receive God’s grace day by day. This is the way to “see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God”.
Grace is so important that 17 of the 21 letters in the New Testament begin with some form of greeting that includes grace.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . . .
Gal 1:3
Gal 1:3
And many letters end with a wish for grace for the believers.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thess 5:28
1 Thess 5:28
In fact, the very last verse in the Bible is such a prayer.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Rev 22:21
Rev 22:21
So, it is crystal clear that grace is paramount! It is what we should wish for one another above all else. It should be behind our prayers for one another. We should want for each other God’s full undeserved love.
Perhaps the most fantastic way we administer God’s grace to one another is that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to the church by working through us. Called spiritual gifts, these manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s personhood and power can spring out of us for the good of Christians. It is not us acting, but the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps the most fantastic way we administer God’s grace to one another is that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to the church by working through us. Called spiritual gifts, these manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s personhood and power can spring out of us for the good of Christians. It is not us acting, but the Holy Spirit.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Cor 12:7
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Rom 12:6
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
l Peter 4:10
1 Cor 12:7
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Rom 12:6
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
l Peter 4:10
With respect to spiritual gifts, all we have to do is not inhibit the action of the Holy Spirit through us. These are not natural talents, things we practice and get better at. Spiritual gifts are supernatural and often experienced as something we did not intend to do or something that we know we could not have made happen. Expression of our gift or gifts of the Holy Spirit should become a normal supernatural part of our lives and service for God.
Often others in our Christian Inner Circles can distinguish our spiritual gift or gifts better than we can because they are observing us. They are receiving the benefits of the specific gifts from the Holy Spirit as they come through us. But, occasionally we can recognize that something we have done powerfully helps another Christian or the church and is not our usual impact on people. For example, earlier in my life when I returned to churches to do a second workshop years later, someone would tell me that something I said in the previous workshop turned their whole life around. Not only did I not see that kind of power in the workshop I had done, but the thing that I was told I said was often a spontaneous side comment that had little to do with the presentation. It was my spiritual gift of exhortation that allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to these Christians.
Now let’s take a detailed look at how we intentionally help one another experience God’s grace in ways that are not supernatural. These require frequent obedience and are to be a regular aspect of our living together as Christians.
It is, or should be, far more wonderful to receive undeserved love than deserved love. The first is a gift that we had no way of receiving and the second is more of a wage for which we have a sense of entitlement. While we can certainly enjoy the work of our own hands and life, that joy is inferior to the joy that comes from grace. For example, imagine the joy of a child in poverty receiving a remote-controlled toy car compared to one from a rich family who just buys that toy with his lucrative allowance. Acknowledging grace means to realize that we are not entitled to all the good things that come into our lives, that they are gifts of God’s unconditional love.
I try to be a good husband to Jean and she treats me nicely because of it. However, there are times when my wife treats me well when I do not deserve it. Those times her love is grace and much more treasured.
We can always point out to our Christian contacts how wonderful it is that God has given them good things beyond what they expect or are entitled to. In that way, we can see that Christians around us do not miss out on God’s grace. It should be easy to see ourselves as such emissaries of our “more-than-a-billionaire” God, helping others recognize and be thrilled with the gifts and privileges they have been given.
There are common gifts of God’s grace that all humans should recognize and enjoy. Clean air and water, adequate food, beauty, and millions of other things come to mind. We hope that unbelievers will notice these things from God rather than attribute them to chance evolution. But, we want to help Christians give more than lip service to such gifts of grace, even though they are common. We who belong to Christ should thank and praise God for each newly recognized outpouring of God’s grace, especially because we know we do not deserve them.
Then, there are gifts of grace given only to Christians. We also do not want to let these things go unnoticed among us. Here, again, there are millions. But, the chief gift of grace seems to be peace, as it is so often included with greetings at the beginning of the letters in our New Testament.
Often others in our Christian Inner Circles can distinguish our spiritual gift or gifts better than we can because they are observing us. They are receiving the benefits of the specific gifts from the Holy Spirit as they come through us. But, occasionally we can recognize that something we have done powerfully helps another Christian or the church and is not our usual impact on people. For example, earlier in my life when I returned to churches to do a second workshop years later, someone would tell me that something I said in the previous workshop turned their whole life around. Not only did I not see that kind of power in the workshop I had done, but the thing that I was told I said was often a spontaneous side comment that had little to do with the presentation. It was my spiritual gift of exhortation that allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to these Christians.
Now let’s take a detailed look at how we intentionally help one another experience God’s grace in ways that are not supernatural. These require frequent obedience and are to be a regular aspect of our living together as Christians.
It is, or should be, far more wonderful to receive undeserved love than deserved love. The first is a gift that we had no way of receiving and the second is more of a wage for which we have a sense of entitlement. While we can certainly enjoy the work of our own hands and life, that joy is inferior to the joy that comes from grace. For example, imagine the joy of a child in poverty receiving a remote-controlled toy car compared to one from a rich family who just buys that toy with his lucrative allowance. Acknowledging grace means to realize that we are not entitled to all the good things that come into our lives, that they are gifts of God’s unconditional love.
I try to be a good husband to Jean and she treats me nicely because of it. However, there are times when my wife treats me well when I do not deserve it. Those times her love is grace and much more treasured.
We can always point out to our Christian contacts how wonderful it is that God has given them good things beyond what they expect or are entitled to. In that way, we can see that Christians around us do not miss out on God’s grace. It should be easy to see ourselves as such emissaries of our “more-than-a-billionaire” God, helping others recognize and be thrilled with the gifts and privileges they have been given.
There are common gifts of God’s grace that all humans should recognize and enjoy. Clean air and water, adequate food, beauty, and millions of other things come to mind. We hope that unbelievers will notice these things from God rather than attribute them to chance evolution. But, we want to help Christians give more than lip service to such gifts of grace, even though they are common. We who belong to Christ should thank and praise God for each newly recognized outpouring of God’s grace, especially because we know we do not deserve them.
Then, there are gifts of grace given only to Christians. We also do not want to let these things go unnoticed among us. Here, again, there are millions. But, the chief gift of grace seems to be peace, as it is so often included with greetings at the beginning of the letters in our New Testament.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7
Gifts to Christians from God’s grace target us corporately and individually. For example, a Bible study group one night will receive very critical understanding of some scripture passage still hidden to other Christians. And, God is continually giving things of grace out of His unconditional and undeserved love to individuals, married couples, families, and friendships.
Other gifts of God’s grace are truly unknowable and we cannot specifically point them out to one another. For example, we may miss traffic lights that God altered to prevent an accident. The Lord obviously keeps us safe on the roads, but we may never know this side of heaven whether it was natural or supernatural safety.
Surely, at least once every day or week, we can see something that has happened good for one another that was an expression of God’s grace. In such incidences, we don’t want them to be unnoticed. We want each other to know how God is taking care of us on a regular and visible basis. This will take our faith out of what might sometimes feel like wishful thinking to evidenced-based faith.
Of course, the billions of things that can happen to individuals, friendships, families and marriages cannot be listed. But, if we watch out for them, these acts of grace and mercy will become apparent at least some of the time. Even a sale of something needed or merely desired discovered just at the right time can be because of God’s grace. Certainly, a child graduating from high school is gracious favor by the Lord. That child has been kept from death, various addictions, multiple discouragements, and other barriers to such academic completion.
Friendships might find unexpected openings in personal schedules for a fishing trip or a time shopping. Families might similarly find that there is a calming of mandatory activities to allow for a trip to the zoo together. Husbands and wives might find $40 that fell behind a bedroom dresser just at the time of their anniversary and divert the disappointment of not being able to celebrate it with a dinner out.
Nothing is more precious than God’s gift of grace in our salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Marvelously, that just opens the doorway to God’s grace being given throughout all eternity in infinite ways. We are all responsible to see that none of us misses these additions to salvation grace.
Other gifts of God’s grace are truly unknowable and we cannot specifically point them out to one another. For example, we may miss traffic lights that God altered to prevent an accident. The Lord obviously keeps us safe on the roads, but we may never know this side of heaven whether it was natural or supernatural safety.
Surely, at least once every day or week, we can see something that has happened good for one another that was an expression of God’s grace. In such incidences, we don’t want them to be unnoticed. We want each other to know how God is taking care of us on a regular and visible basis. This will take our faith out of what might sometimes feel like wishful thinking to evidenced-based faith.
Of course, the billions of things that can happen to individuals, friendships, families and marriages cannot be listed. But, if we watch out for them, these acts of grace and mercy will become apparent at least some of the time. Even a sale of something needed or merely desired discovered just at the right time can be because of God’s grace. Certainly, a child graduating from high school is gracious favor by the Lord. That child has been kept from death, various addictions, multiple discouragements, and other barriers to such academic completion.
Friendships might find unexpected openings in personal schedules for a fishing trip or a time shopping. Families might similarly find that there is a calming of mandatory activities to allow for a trip to the zoo together. Husbands and wives might find $40 that fell behind a bedroom dresser just at the time of their anniversary and divert the disappointment of not being able to celebrate it with a dinner out.
Nothing is more precious than God’s gift of grace in our salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Marvelously, that just opens the doorway to God’s grace being given throughout all eternity in infinite ways. We are all responsible to see that none of us misses these additions to salvation grace.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
At a large insurance company, five Christian women in different offices of the building have found one another, become friends and occasionally eat lunch together. This Christian friendship group spreads God’s grace to one another and throughout the whole workplace.
One of the Christian women is quite difficult to get along with. She is touchy and often takes things the wrong way. But, the women stick with her, explaining themselves over and over again when they would really like to shun her. This patient, undeserved love mimics the loving tolerance Jesus exhibited in Bible times and that He shows to us now. The women also bring God’s grace in dozens of ways to unbelievers in the office. Because they are so secure in how God’s grace sustains them, they are able to take personal risk and help disputes between office factions, help failing employees learn how to do their jobs better, and help less-liked people put their better qualities on display. |
Jesus is the supreme example of God’s grace. He is the One who makes us recipients of God’s saving grace, sanctifying grace, and all other forms of undeserved love from God.
We can’t pay the penalty for one another’s sins as did Jesus. We cannot purchase or grant saving grace. But, we can administer God’s grace for the work of sanctification. We do this when we help other Christians pay more attention to the grace already given as well as have faith in grace yet to be granted.
In the sense of past grace bestowed, we can draw back the window blinds for other Christians to better see the grace already given them.
In the aspect of grace waiting for them, we can hold the door open for Jesus to walk into a Christians’s life so that God can grace them with some new gift of unwarranted love and favor.
First, that ministry of administering God’s grace that has already been given. See how Jesus told people to recognize God’s grace.
We can’t pay the penalty for one another’s sins as did Jesus. We cannot purchase or grant saving grace. But, we can administer God’s grace for the work of sanctification. We do this when we help other Christians pay more attention to the grace already given as well as have faith in grace yet to be granted.
In the sense of past grace bestowed, we can draw back the window blinds for other Christians to better see the grace already given them.
In the aspect of grace waiting for them, we can hold the door open for Jesus to walk into a Christians’s life so that God can grace them with some new gift of unwarranted love and favor.
First, that ministry of administering God’s grace that has already been given. See how Jesus told people to recognize God’s grace.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matt 6:2
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As we Christians live our lives together, we have multiple opportunities to help one another see and remember God’s undeserved goodness given out of His love to one another. We can spot when one of us takes God’s gifts for granted. Then, we can do like Jesus and point out the grace. We just have to look to see where there is not exceptional appreciation for the good things that come into our lives.
So often we only pay attention to the bad things or the hard things. Ask a person how their day was and you will find that we tend not to think of the blessings, but, instead, relate the difficulties. God has treated us better than we deserve, but we want the sympathies of others for the tough things we had to face. There is nothing wrong with the latter, but the appreciation of God carrying us on His shoulders of grace is so much more important.
The saying, “there but for the grace of God go I” is so true. Without God’s grace, we could be in any unfortunate situation. We could have been born in the poorest or most dangerous country in the world. We could be addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.
Some troubles come from blessings given by God’s grace. A car flat tire could be avoided by not being blessed with a means of transportation. And, then, trouble itself is turned into the grace of spiritual growth.
So often we only pay attention to the bad things or the hard things. Ask a person how their day was and you will find that we tend not to think of the blessings, but, instead, relate the difficulties. God has treated us better than we deserve, but we want the sympathies of others for the tough things we had to face. There is nothing wrong with the latter, but the appreciation of God carrying us on His shoulders of grace is so much more important.
The saying, “there but for the grace of God go I” is so true. Without God’s grace, we could be in any unfortunate situation. We could have been born in the poorest or most dangerous country in the world. We could be addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.
Some troubles come from blessings given by God’s grace. A car flat tire could be avoided by not being blessed with a means of transportation. And, then, trouble itself is turned into the grace of spiritual growth.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4
Then, even in very painful suffering, the loving acts of other Christians are made available through God’s grace. A Christian woman being divorced by her nonbelieving spouse after years of commitment and loving witness will have God delivering grace through faithful friends who help her start again with the promise of a better life.
We can also help some Christians to go beyond simplistically saying that their day was “blessed by God”. We can respond, “That’s great. Tell me the specific ways God gave you something today you did not deserve.” But, before we do that we had better get on top of seeing the way God graced our lives that day.
When we get away from the hustle and bustle of life, it should be easier to “count our blessings”. A relaxed walk around the block gives us time to see gifts from God such as the beauty of flowers, the intricate designs and patterns in broken cement sidewalks, the ability to see and hear and smell and touch and taste. Apart from the difficulties of life, we are free on our hike to consider what has gone right and where God has evidently helped with grace. There should be no “cup half empty” Christians, what with all the grace we have been given.
As citizens of heaven we need to know that even when life is hectic and hurtful, we are still surrounded by gifts out of God’s unwarranted love and mercy. Those outside of the kingdom have every right to complain about their days. Let’s be sad that it is so for them, but let’s not let that happen to us. We should be content where they are distressed. Our lives should show an appreciation for good things in a sinful, bad culture and a thankfulness that attests to our appreciation of God. They may admire our openness about appreciation for God’s grace or they may ridicule us. What does it matter? Recognizing that all we really deserve as sinners, even though saved, is trouble, but that we receive positive from God instead, including spiritual growth for all eternity, as a result of suffering.
We can remind one another that anything good that happens in a day is a gift from God. Did we drive a car? Is it made of basic elements designed and created by God? A warm day is a gift for its heat. A rainy day is God’s grace providing the water on which all life depends. A smile when we needed it was probably a gift, as least its power to lift our spirits.
Then there is beauty all around us. Do we see it? Do we pay more attention to Satan or to God? What comes to mind are dandelions. Do their bright yellow flowers give us joy from God, even though we have to get them out of our lawns? Or, are we more aware of the devil’s work and they bring negative thoughts? We might have to help one another see God rather than the enemy in the dandelion. Everything God has made has some beauty of its own. Even the weeds coming from the curse after the Garden of Eden disaster were created by God who cannot make evil or ugly.
Now, let’s look at how we administer to one another God’s coming grace. Remember that the gifts of the Spirit, what we call spiritual gifts, is God administering His unwarranted love and help through us, but largely without too much effort on our part. Let’s now discuss how we work with God a bit more intentionally to administer God’s future grace to one another.
There are times when we ourselves are the grace Jesus is giving out. We might call this being gracious, but the way “gracious” is usually used can be trivial. However, it is powerfully dynamic when it comes through us from the Lord. We need to amp up this word “gracious” beyond being polite and nice. If grace is undeserved love, then graciousness also has to be undeserved love. As it goes from us to another, it is really Jesus in us who is originating grace.
Every time we go beyond the call of duty, go the extra mile, or do more than is easy and comfortable can be an act of grace, or gracious in the strict use of the word. But, it must be done out of love. (Remember, the Bible’s love is self denial for another’s good.)
The majority of the Togethers are acts of grace. They are ways that God using other Christians shows love to us that we do not deserve, not even by claiming, “God says you should do this for me!” Because God tells others to love us does mean that they should do it, but it does not mean that we deserve it. When they do good things for us so they can obey and please God, God blesses us because He is the reason they are helping us.
Can you embrace what a privilege it is to sometimes be the expression of the grace of Jesus Christ? Truly, is there any greater privilege than to be, in a spiritual sense, Jesus to other people? Being Jesus to others by letting Him exhibit undeserved love through us is wonderful beyond description.
We can have the attitude that anytime we cross paths with another Christian, we have the opportunity to give them undeserved love, to bless them with grace. But, it is not our grace we administer, it is God’s grace through us because Christ dwells in us and comes out of us.
One example of administering God’s grace to others was the giving of the Corinthian church.
We can also help some Christians to go beyond simplistically saying that their day was “blessed by God”. We can respond, “That’s great. Tell me the specific ways God gave you something today you did not deserve.” But, before we do that we had better get on top of seeing the way God graced our lives that day.
When we get away from the hustle and bustle of life, it should be easier to “count our blessings”. A relaxed walk around the block gives us time to see gifts from God such as the beauty of flowers, the intricate designs and patterns in broken cement sidewalks, the ability to see and hear and smell and touch and taste. Apart from the difficulties of life, we are free on our hike to consider what has gone right and where God has evidently helped with grace. There should be no “cup half empty” Christians, what with all the grace we have been given.
As citizens of heaven we need to know that even when life is hectic and hurtful, we are still surrounded by gifts out of God’s unwarranted love and mercy. Those outside of the kingdom have every right to complain about their days. Let’s be sad that it is so for them, but let’s not let that happen to us. We should be content where they are distressed. Our lives should show an appreciation for good things in a sinful, bad culture and a thankfulness that attests to our appreciation of God. They may admire our openness about appreciation for God’s grace or they may ridicule us. What does it matter? Recognizing that all we really deserve as sinners, even though saved, is trouble, but that we receive positive from God instead, including spiritual growth for all eternity, as a result of suffering.
We can remind one another that anything good that happens in a day is a gift from God. Did we drive a car? Is it made of basic elements designed and created by God? A warm day is a gift for its heat. A rainy day is God’s grace providing the water on which all life depends. A smile when we needed it was probably a gift, as least its power to lift our spirits.
Then there is beauty all around us. Do we see it? Do we pay more attention to Satan or to God? What comes to mind are dandelions. Do their bright yellow flowers give us joy from God, even though we have to get them out of our lawns? Or, are we more aware of the devil’s work and they bring negative thoughts? We might have to help one another see God rather than the enemy in the dandelion. Everything God has made has some beauty of its own. Even the weeds coming from the curse after the Garden of Eden disaster were created by God who cannot make evil or ugly.
Now, let’s look at how we administer to one another God’s coming grace. Remember that the gifts of the Spirit, what we call spiritual gifts, is God administering His unwarranted love and help through us, but largely without too much effort on our part. Let’s now discuss how we work with God a bit more intentionally to administer God’s future grace to one another.
There are times when we ourselves are the grace Jesus is giving out. We might call this being gracious, but the way “gracious” is usually used can be trivial. However, it is powerfully dynamic when it comes through us from the Lord. We need to amp up this word “gracious” beyond being polite and nice. If grace is undeserved love, then graciousness also has to be undeserved love. As it goes from us to another, it is really Jesus in us who is originating grace.
Every time we go beyond the call of duty, go the extra mile, or do more than is easy and comfortable can be an act of grace, or gracious in the strict use of the word. But, it must be done out of love. (Remember, the Bible’s love is self denial for another’s good.)
The majority of the Togethers are acts of grace. They are ways that God using other Christians shows love to us that we do not deserve, not even by claiming, “God says you should do this for me!” Because God tells others to love us does mean that they should do it, but it does not mean that we deserve it. When they do good things for us so they can obey and please God, God blesses us because He is the reason they are helping us.
Can you embrace what a privilege it is to sometimes be the expression of the grace of Jesus Christ? Truly, is there any greater privilege than to be, in a spiritual sense, Jesus to other people? Being Jesus to others by letting Him exhibit undeserved love through us is wonderful beyond description.
We can have the attitude that anytime we cross paths with another Christian, we have the opportunity to give them undeserved love, to bless them with grace. But, it is not our grace we administer, it is God’s grace through us because Christ dwells in us and comes out of us.
One example of administering God’s grace to others was the giving of the Corinthian church.
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Cor 8:7
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Like Jesus, let’s allow God to work through us in loving ways of which we are only capable because of the grace of God, adequate only by the gift of God, and physically able only with the bodies given us by the grace of God.
Opportunity to Worship God
Chuck and Jenifer have two older teenagers who do well in school and have jobs. So when they wanted to take a four-day vacation, they felt comfortable leaving the son and daughter to take care of themselves, the house, and the family pets. There was no past indication that the teens could not be trusted.
But, on the second to last day of their trip Chuck and Jenifer found something they wanted to purchase that required the motel money. So, they decided to go home a day early. Knowing their kids were at work, they did not bother to let the kids know they would be home late that night. Were they ever in for a surprise when they arrived home at 11:00 pm to find a wild party with alcohol in progress. Of course, their first reaction was anger, so they drove a few blocks away to cool down. Then they prayed to get God’s direction on how to handle the situation. What came to mind was also a bit of a surprise. Their thoughts went to how God had treated them when they went astray. They remembered how through Bible study God had gently encouraged them to stop. They did not have “the fear of God” placed in them, but a request from God to treat Him better in light of His love for them. From that they developed a strategy of grace, went quietly into the house, greeted everyone warmly, politely told their kids that what was going on needed to stop immediately, and let them know that they should clean the house thoroughly before going to bed. They said that they understood that it was very tempting to do what they were doing, and that the situation would be discussed the next day. Chuck and Jenifer never considered that they were worshiping God by reflecting back to Himself his character. But, to God it was great worship. |
Administering God’s grace to one another is worship (a) when we pass on grace and reflect God’s graciousness, (b) when we help others to pass on God’s grace, and (c) when we point out to another some wonderful grace that leads them to worship God for it through thankful praise.
Reflecting God’s Grace in Loving Action
When we administer God’s grace in our actions to others through acts of undeserved love, we worship God to the extent that we reflect His person and character. Passing on God’s grace mirrors God giving us grace.
For example, forgiveness is a most wonderful act of grace. God forgives us in Jesus. So, when we because of Jesus forgive another who has hurt us, we reflect God’s forgiving grace. Likewise, when we put up with one another’s irritating behaviors and hurtful actions, we mirror God bearing with us.
Here is the wonderful mystery. When we give a gift of love to another who “doesn’t have it coming to them” because of something good they previously did for us, Jesus manifests Himself in our action and God sees Jesus in us. That reflection to God of Jesus and His grace is worship.
We all need to realize that to do good for others is a wonderful gift of God’s grace. God is including us in His work, bringing us along for the ride, letting us share in the glory of doing good for those who do not deserve it. We don’t even deserve to serve God, but in His grace He saves us and lets us glorify Him.
For example, forgiveness is a most wonderful act of grace. God forgives us in Jesus. So, when we because of Jesus forgive another who has hurt us, we reflect God’s forgiving grace. Likewise, when we put up with one another’s irritating behaviors and hurtful actions, we mirror God bearing with us.
Here is the wonderful mystery. When we give a gift of love to another who “doesn’t have it coming to them” because of something good they previously did for us, Jesus manifests Himself in our action and God sees Jesus in us. That reflection to God of Jesus and His grace is worship.
We all need to realize that to do good for others is a wonderful gift of God’s grace. God is including us in His work, bringing us along for the ride, letting us share in the glory of doing good for those who do not deserve it. We don’t even deserve to serve God, but in His grace He saves us and lets us glorify Him.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,
you may abound in every good work.
2 Cor 9:8 (ESV)
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,
you may abound in every good work.
2 Cor 9:8 (ESV)
Or said differently in the New International Version
And God is able to bless you abundantly,
so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.
2 Cor 9:8
so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.
2 Cor 9:8
We can administer God’s grace to one another by making certain that we all cherish our places of service as gifts of grace. Is that not what was so dynamic in the early church
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
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Acts 4:32-35
Helping Other Christians Pass on God’s Grace
Helping Other Christians Pass on God’s Grace
Not only must we pass on God’s grace to others, we need to help those in our Christian Inner Circles see that they need to do the same. They, also, need to worship God by both pointing out grace to others and to be grace to others.
Thus, we worship by helping our friends, family members, and spouses worship through extending God’s grace.
Thus, we worship by helping our friends, family members, and spouses worship through extending God’s grace.
Pointing Out God’s Gifts of Grace to One Another
We also worship by helping others praise God for good things they do not deserve.
We can help those in our Christian Inner Circles to realize that much of God’s grace is right before our eyes, but overlooked. To point out God’s grace as it appears in life, whether that be His protection or just a gentle, cooling wind, will draw attention to God’s gracious giving nature and is great worship.
Pointing out God’s grace in little things expands knowledge of God’s grace and, thus, expands worship. A well-behaved pet dog is a gift of grace from God. The dog could have been disobedient, even vicious, but God gave a “good dog”, one who could be trained. Perhaps we have a Christian friend who has not given enough consideration that her or his “good dog” is a gift from God’s grace. When we point it out, we worship because we are wanting God to be recognized for how very loving He is.
What a wonderful ministry to other Christians, to help them see God’s unwarranted favor and grace, some of it specifically designed for them.
We can help those in our Christian Inner Circles to realize that much of God’s grace is right before our eyes, but overlooked. To point out God’s grace as it appears in life, whether that be His protection or just a gentle, cooling wind, will draw attention to God’s gracious giving nature and is great worship.
Pointing out God’s grace in little things expands knowledge of God’s grace and, thus, expands worship. A well-behaved pet dog is a gift of grace from God. The dog could have been disobedient, even vicious, but God gave a “good dog”, one who could be trained. Perhaps we have a Christian friend who has not given enough consideration that her or his “good dog” is a gift from God’s grace. When we point it out, we worship because we are wanting God to be recognized for how very loving He is.
What a wonderful ministry to other Christians, to help them see God’s unwarranted favor and grace, some of it specifically designed for them.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Eph 4:7-8
This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Eph 4:7-8
Let us worship God more and more by helping others see His grace in their lives. Let’s also worship by being expressions of God’s grace in loving service to others
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Sata
Kinsey married Ethan even though he was a person who always saw the dark side of things. Nothing was ever perfect enough for him. Not many understood Kinsey’s graceful acceptance of Ethan, much less why she would have wanted to marry him. However, Kinsey saw the damage that Ethan’s childhood had done and was able to look beyond to the real person trapped inside. It helped that Kinsey was one to see the bright side of things and easily point out God’s grace.
Ethan is now almost totally transformed after ten years of marriage and thousands of positive comments about God’s undeserved goodness in response to his disgruntled comments. People actually like to be around him. Some who do not know the history ask Kinsey how she got so lucky in finding such a wonderful husband. Longtime friends, say, “Ha!” But, from the throne in heaven, God says, “It’s a rout! Take that, Satan.” |
Satan does not want God’s people to recognize His grace. The devil usually works on mankind to think they deserve more from God and that he has not blessed them enough. Satan started this with Eve in the Garden of Eden by telling her that she deserved more than God had given. But, with others the devil convinces them that they are not worthy of God’s grace, blinding them from seeing the signs of God’s love all around them. In both of these ways the evil one tries to keep us from seeing God’s loving grace.
For us Christians the devil has lost his prime objective. We have seen God’s unwarranted love and accepted it and become new creatures in Christ. Yet, Satan will still use his resources to blind us to the grace of God in our lives in order to rob God of glory. The last thing Satan wants is for us to recognize the undeserved love God showers on us.
For example, when we go on a hike in the forest with others and someone has left trash, can we remind ourselves of the beauty and ignore the evil meant to destroy it? We must not let the devil cloud the good gifts of God. We can declare the forest more wonderful than we deserve, even though its original pristine condition has been marred by other people or destructive insects. To understand this, suppose someone gives us a gift of love, perhaps an enjoyed decorative item. Then a dog’s wagging tail breaks it. Need that take away the love we received when the gift was given? No, only the gift item, not the spiritual aspect of the gift which will last throughout eternity. Likewise, our spirits can still rejoice in the forest we are hiking in as a gift of God’s grace, even though it is tarnished.
The devil will likewise try to distort our acts of love toward one another. Occasionally something we do to be kind and fueled by God’s grace in our own lives will be interpreted by another as an attack, insult, or insensitive act. When this happens, we must recognize the devil doing all he can to ruin the grace of God. If we catch him in his act, we can patiently continue to help the other see our intentions were loving.
How often have we planned to do something we hoped everyone would enjoy and it didn’t turn out like we wanted? If we truly believe that the devil wants to rob God of His glory, doesn’t it make sense that he would try to spoil things? Expecting God to make everything go well and be easy is unbiblical and elevates our worth as deserving God to bless us all of the time.
So, in this war with Satan we need to help one another see the blessings of God all around us, even if our lives are not perfect or successful by the world’s standards. If, when life is not disappointing we point out the overwhelming goodness of God around us that we do not really and truly deserve, it won’t seem God has abandoned us when things go wrong. Opening one another’s eyes to God’s grace in giving us so much that has not been spoiled by evil can help us face our painful situations. Then we can go on to defeat the devil by praising God’s grace, even when times are tough.
Occasionally, difficult times are actually gifts of God’s grace from heaven’s perspective. We need to help one another see God’s loving hand in our disasters as well as our comforts. For example, often when we do something powerful in the war against Satan, the devil strikes back. Like Elijah, we can become extremely discouraged.
For us Christians the devil has lost his prime objective. We have seen God’s unwarranted love and accepted it and become new creatures in Christ. Yet, Satan will still use his resources to blind us to the grace of God in our lives in order to rob God of glory. The last thing Satan wants is for us to recognize the undeserved love God showers on us.
For example, when we go on a hike in the forest with others and someone has left trash, can we remind ourselves of the beauty and ignore the evil meant to destroy it? We must not let the devil cloud the good gifts of God. We can declare the forest more wonderful than we deserve, even though its original pristine condition has been marred by other people or destructive insects. To understand this, suppose someone gives us a gift of love, perhaps an enjoyed decorative item. Then a dog’s wagging tail breaks it. Need that take away the love we received when the gift was given? No, only the gift item, not the spiritual aspect of the gift which will last throughout eternity. Likewise, our spirits can still rejoice in the forest we are hiking in as a gift of God’s grace, even though it is tarnished.
The devil will likewise try to distort our acts of love toward one another. Occasionally something we do to be kind and fueled by God’s grace in our own lives will be interpreted by another as an attack, insult, or insensitive act. When this happens, we must recognize the devil doing all he can to ruin the grace of God. If we catch him in his act, we can patiently continue to help the other see our intentions were loving.
How often have we planned to do something we hoped everyone would enjoy and it didn’t turn out like we wanted? If we truly believe that the devil wants to rob God of His glory, doesn’t it make sense that he would try to spoil things? Expecting God to make everything go well and be easy is unbiblical and elevates our worth as deserving God to bless us all of the time.
So, in this war with Satan we need to help one another see the blessings of God all around us, even if our lives are not perfect or successful by the world’s standards. If, when life is not disappointing we point out the overwhelming goodness of God around us that we do not really and truly deserve, it won’t seem God has abandoned us when things go wrong. Opening one another’s eyes to God’s grace in giving us so much that has not been spoiled by evil can help us face our painful situations. Then we can go on to defeat the devil by praising God’s grace, even when times are tough.
Occasionally, difficult times are actually gifts of God’s grace from heaven’s perspective. We need to help one another see God’s loving hand in our disasters as well as our comforts. For example, often when we do something powerful in the war against Satan, the devil strikes back. Like Elijah, we can become extremely discouraged.
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there. 1 Kings 18: 38-40
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[Then, right afterward:]
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 1 Kings 19:3-5
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Similar to that of Elijah, often when I or a friend has stood up to the devil successfully, we have experienced depression after the victory. It makes sense that Satan would strike back. So, in those times we might see that God by His grace has allowed us to be on His side, a blessing of grace, just not as we prefer to understand grace. Would we rather not have been called by God to persist in prayer or do some difficult act of righteousness just to avoid the devil’s backlash of depression, low energy, and tiredness? Let’s hope not.
Imagine for a moment the opposite of administering God’s grace to one another. Suppose my wife Jean has friends who point out my faults. Can you imagine the damage that might do to our relationship? Of course, if I was a dangerous man, it would then be grace to help her deal with me and protect herself. But, I am not dangerous. I am, however, not all that perfect. If her friends for some dysfunctional reason want her to think poorly of me, they would point out my shortcomings. But, if they were to embrace God’s assignment to administer grace and help her see my good parts, the relationship would be helped.
This is an excellent example of how we Christians might be more obedient as publicizers of God’s grace. In our friendships, we can point out the gifts God has given us in our relationships. We can highlight a friend’s helpful boss, gentle mother, or friendly neighbor. God will have given those things, and they should not be taken for granted. There are plenty of people with nasty bosses, selfish mothers, and cantankerous neighbors. God’s graceful love has spared us of those.
We need to do so much more in opening one another’s eyes to God’s grace, to those things He has given us that we do not pay much attention to or, worse yet, don’t think we deserve. Again, a parallel example. Some of us have never taken an art appreciation course. Some of us even think that is for more sophisticated people and we shouldn’t even expect ourselves to deserve to understand different kinds of art. Usually the best we get from others is their comment that pieces of art are excellent. They are not really opening our eyes to something they see as wonderful. They are not giving enough explanation. We need those who understand and appreciate art to take us to an art museum or gallery, a place we would not likely go, and show us how the art there is wonderful. Likewise, we need to all remember that the grace of God we see in life is not obvious to everyone. As God’s helpers, we are to administer God’s grace to them and open their eyes with sufficient observation and explanation.
Let’s not cooperate with Satan and ignore so much of God’s grace, those things He has given us that we do not deserve. Let’s frequently point out the less obvious gifts of grace from God and know that in doing so we are striking a humbling blow to the obnoxiously proud devil.
Imagine for a moment the opposite of administering God’s grace to one another. Suppose my wife Jean has friends who point out my faults. Can you imagine the damage that might do to our relationship? Of course, if I was a dangerous man, it would then be grace to help her deal with me and protect herself. But, I am not dangerous. I am, however, not all that perfect. If her friends for some dysfunctional reason want her to think poorly of me, they would point out my shortcomings. But, if they were to embrace God’s assignment to administer grace and help her see my good parts, the relationship would be helped.
This is an excellent example of how we Christians might be more obedient as publicizers of God’s grace. In our friendships, we can point out the gifts God has given us in our relationships. We can highlight a friend’s helpful boss, gentle mother, or friendly neighbor. God will have given those things, and they should not be taken for granted. There are plenty of people with nasty bosses, selfish mothers, and cantankerous neighbors. God’s graceful love has spared us of those.
We need to do so much more in opening one another’s eyes to God’s grace, to those things He has given us that we do not pay much attention to or, worse yet, don’t think we deserve. Again, a parallel example. Some of us have never taken an art appreciation course. Some of us even think that is for more sophisticated people and we shouldn’t even expect ourselves to deserve to understand different kinds of art. Usually the best we get from others is their comment that pieces of art are excellent. They are not really opening our eyes to something they see as wonderful. They are not giving enough explanation. We need those who understand and appreciate art to take us to an art museum or gallery, a place we would not likely go, and show us how the art there is wonderful. Likewise, we need to all remember that the grace of God we see in life is not obvious to everyone. As God’s helpers, we are to administer God’s grace to them and open their eyes with sufficient observation and explanation.
Let’s not cooperate with Satan and ignore so much of God’s grace, those things He has given us that we do not deserve. Let’s frequently point out the less obvious gifts of grace from God and know that in doing so we are striking a humbling blow to the obnoxiously proud devil.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heave
Samantha wanted to find another Christian in her neighborhood to walk with in order to lose weight. There were two Christian friends within a couple of blocks. Christine was okay, but all she wanted to talk about was family conflicts and politics. Scarlet, on the other hand, was a real blessing from God because she was constantly pointing out small things that God through His grace gave for people to enjoy. Flowers in yards, pets, aesthetic patterns in weeds, and all other things reminded Scarlet of God’s undeserved gifts.
Samantha wants to see more of God’s grace. She wants to go to heaven more perceptive of all the wonderful aspects of God’s grace there. Sam realized that if she could make a habit of overlooking the bad to see the good God gives, her perceptive abilities of grace would be stronger in heaven. So, she chose to walk with Scarlet and include Christine in less personal activities. |
Heaven can be enhanced in at least two ways by administering God’s grace to one another now. (1) Our perceptive abilities to see grace will be more developed. (2) We will see grace in heaven others will miss, and we can have the joy of showing them. To be prepared for the second, we need to grow in the first. Some in heaven will not be equipped to perceive the depth of grace because they before death did not look close enough at God’s grace and pass their observations on to others.
During everyday events there are moments of free time when we can consider love given us by God that we did not deserve, grace in His creative design, or circumstances from His favor. Let’s open our eyes to grace that is unmerited favor and undeserved love and show it to one another. This will enlarge our ability to recognize grace – here and in heaven.
We know that God is everywhere. He is not in the dandelion, but the dandelion is evidence that He is here in a spiritual way we can only partially understand. When we are in heaven with our spirits unhindered by sin and we meet up with a dandelion, we will experience God to the extent that we saw His grace in dandelions before. Perhaps, before death we appreciated God’s gift of dandelions and, looking past them as weeds, found His grace in them. Then in heaven their fragrance may be sweeter and colors brighter. Even more so will be an appreciation for God’s creative wisdom in how the dandelion functions. (We can also wish that dandelions in heaven will be singing, but let’s not get too fanciful, even though that is possible. See Luke 19:37-40)
To administer God’s grace to others beyond the spiritual gifts, we must pay attention to the details. Everything around us speaks of God’s grace. We have been given so much that is both undeserved and intricately marvelous. If we want to prepare for heaven with its unlimited grace to be discovered day after day after day, we must not feel entitled to such marvelous goodness and be inattentive to it now.
Think of those functional things that we take for granted. Chairs hold up when we sit in them. How is that possible? It is a gift from a very creative God who created the intricacy of trees and the systemic processes within them. Did we have a claim on God that He had to give us trees or chairs? Not hardly. Then there are medications that we turn to when ill. They are made up of elements from the mind of God, working through chemical reactions to help us get well. Trees, medications and a million other gifts from God can be known and appreciated for their functionality alone or also as undeserved gifts of grace from a God we know and love.
Can we help one another see that God has given us much undeserved love in the little details of creation? We cannot be so practical as to dismiss this close inspection of God’s grace as trivial. It relates to appreciating God and is an important preparation for our future in heaven.
If now we learn to see the good God intended in even corrupted things, past the distraction of blemishes and destruction, doesn’t it make sense that in heaven we will be able to perceive heaven’s details better? It should be easier there without sin blocking the good. The concentration needed to look past sin to see God’s goodness will develop for heaven a greater perception of grace.
Two illustrations might clear this up. The more we look at the intricate design of a gorgeous flower, the more detailed we will see it later when we look again. Or think of bird watchers. The more they look for the birds in their camouflage surroundings and listen for their distinctive calls, the better they get for the next birding event.
A person coming back and seeing the ruins of their home from a natural disaster or bomb attack is able to visualize the beautiful home that was there before. The evil does not take away the memory of the good. In the same way, if we can see the intricate beauty and amazing processes of photosynthesis of a dandelion beyond it being a weed, then when we see a dandelion in the new earth of our heavenly existence, we will have greater enjoyment.
Let’s develop our spirits to see God’s wonderful grace wherever we are in anything that is happening. These glorified spirits of ours will then perceive grace better in heaven and add a tremendous amount of joy to our everlasting life.
During everyday events there are moments of free time when we can consider love given us by God that we did not deserve, grace in His creative design, or circumstances from His favor. Let’s open our eyes to grace that is unmerited favor and undeserved love and show it to one another. This will enlarge our ability to recognize grace – here and in heaven.
We know that God is everywhere. He is not in the dandelion, but the dandelion is evidence that He is here in a spiritual way we can only partially understand. When we are in heaven with our spirits unhindered by sin and we meet up with a dandelion, we will experience God to the extent that we saw His grace in dandelions before. Perhaps, before death we appreciated God’s gift of dandelions and, looking past them as weeds, found His grace in them. Then in heaven their fragrance may be sweeter and colors brighter. Even more so will be an appreciation for God’s creative wisdom in how the dandelion functions. (We can also wish that dandelions in heaven will be singing, but let’s not get too fanciful, even though that is possible. See Luke 19:37-40)
To administer God’s grace to others beyond the spiritual gifts, we must pay attention to the details. Everything around us speaks of God’s grace. We have been given so much that is both undeserved and intricately marvelous. If we want to prepare for heaven with its unlimited grace to be discovered day after day after day, we must not feel entitled to such marvelous goodness and be inattentive to it now.
Think of those functional things that we take for granted. Chairs hold up when we sit in them. How is that possible? It is a gift from a very creative God who created the intricacy of trees and the systemic processes within them. Did we have a claim on God that He had to give us trees or chairs? Not hardly. Then there are medications that we turn to when ill. They are made up of elements from the mind of God, working through chemical reactions to help us get well. Trees, medications and a million other gifts from God can be known and appreciated for their functionality alone or also as undeserved gifts of grace from a God we know and love.
Can we help one another see that God has given us much undeserved love in the little details of creation? We cannot be so practical as to dismiss this close inspection of God’s grace as trivial. It relates to appreciating God and is an important preparation for our future in heaven.
If now we learn to see the good God intended in even corrupted things, past the distraction of blemishes and destruction, doesn’t it make sense that in heaven we will be able to perceive heaven’s details better? It should be easier there without sin blocking the good. The concentration needed to look past sin to see God’s goodness will develop for heaven a greater perception of grace.
Two illustrations might clear this up. The more we look at the intricate design of a gorgeous flower, the more detailed we will see it later when we look again. Or think of bird watchers. The more they look for the birds in their camouflage surroundings and listen for their distinctive calls, the better they get for the next birding event.
A person coming back and seeing the ruins of their home from a natural disaster or bomb attack is able to visualize the beautiful home that was there before. The evil does not take away the memory of the good. In the same way, if we can see the intricate beauty and amazing processes of photosynthesis of a dandelion beyond it being a weed, then when we see a dandelion in the new earth of our heavenly existence, we will have greater enjoyment.
Let’s develop our spirits to see God’s wonderful grace wherever we are in anything that is happening. These glorified spirits of ours will then perceive grace better in heaven and add a tremendous amount of joy to our everlasting life.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
It is wonderful to have had well-developed senses when I arrived in heaven to more thoroughly be able to see the grace of God in everything. In the fashion that vision can be more vivid, grace is more vivid. Sharper. Clearer.
Just as thrilling is when every day I show someone else new things about the grace here in eternity. Some can’t perceive the depth of grace that I grasp. Therefore, my joy is exuberant as I see the surprise and delight in their faces when I explain the grace they have overlooked in something. |
Most of us have felt the joy of showing and explaining new things to small children. We remember their apt attention and curiosity. We cherished the joy of discovery they had in their eyes. That same joy will be waiting in heaven for those who administered God’s grace by recognizing it where it was usually ignored and then pointing it out to other Christians. Heaven will have more than any one of us can behold. However, those who paid little attention to God’s grace before death, will be like those little children of our past. Without sin holding them back, they will be curious and excited to see what others can point out to them. Won’t we enjoy being the ones pointing out aspects of God’s grace to them in heaven?
Even more so will be the awaiting joy for those who not only pointed out God’s grace everywhere but passed that grace on to others through some kind of loving kindness. They will be entrusted with rewards of service related to their greater developed skills in administering God’s grace.
The person who was given wealth as a gift from God’s grace and then passed that money on to care for those in need rather than spoil himself or herself with possessions and experiences will be given a job in heaven needful of that generous spirit. Someone who denied personal pleasure to take care of someone disabled or gravely ill will have the spirit necessary for an exalted reward in heaven of caretaking in some other way. While there will be no grave illness in heaven, there will be the enhanced ability to find joy in someone else’s joy. And, we will get the chance to pass on God’s grace in thousands of ways.
We need to also imagine what it will be like to have clearer vision of heaven’s graces. God’s home will have a never-ending, growing amount of grace. God is not finite. Why would we think that God stopped creating when He was finished with Earth and said it was good?
The greatest aspect of God’s grace in heaven will always be that we are there. Jesus will always be for us the best of God’s grace. But, He is also the beginning of God’s never-ending graces. In this life, grace expresses itself in millions of ways. In heaven, it will in trillions and whatever number goes beyond that. There will be unending gifts of grace to be enjoyed.
Even more so will be the awaiting joy for those who not only pointed out God’s grace everywhere but passed that grace on to others through some kind of loving kindness. They will be entrusted with rewards of service related to their greater developed skills in administering God’s grace.
The person who was given wealth as a gift from God’s grace and then passed that money on to care for those in need rather than spoil himself or herself with possessions and experiences will be given a job in heaven needful of that generous spirit. Someone who denied personal pleasure to take care of someone disabled or gravely ill will have the spirit necessary for an exalted reward in heaven of caretaking in some other way. While there will be no grave illness in heaven, there will be the enhanced ability to find joy in someone else’s joy. And, we will get the chance to pass on God’s grace in thousands of ways.
We need to also imagine what it will be like to have clearer vision of heaven’s graces. God’s home will have a never-ending, growing amount of grace. God is not finite. Why would we think that God stopped creating when He was finished with Earth and said it was good?
The greatest aspect of God’s grace in heaven will always be that we are there. Jesus will always be for us the best of God’s grace. But, He is also the beginning of God’s never-ending graces. In this life, grace expresses itself in millions of ways. In heaven, it will in trillions and whatever number goes beyond that. There will be unending gifts of grace to be enjoyed.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:6-7
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In heaven we will be shown “incomparable riches of God’s grace”. But, it seems logical that some will have better vision and comprehension. That skill will have been developed in the laboratory of distraction where we had to focus beyond sin to see the grace of God. Doing so will allow us a higher quality of life in heaven.
Let’s look forward to seeing more and more aspects of God’s expanding grace in heaven because we have administered His grace to others now. Let’s also look forward to being able to show others God’s graces and enjoy their surprise.
Let’s look forward to seeing more and more aspects of God’s expanding grace in heaven because we have administered His grace to others now. Let’s also look forward to being able to show others God’s graces and enjoy their surprise.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
There are more ways to be close to God than physical. Even before I died and came to heaven I knew I was closer to God the more I perceived His grace. All of us here in eternity have joy in the unseen aspects of closeness with God. But, I sense that there are those who feel closer to God in their spirits and some who feel more distant. We are all content, and I know that I enjoy every bit of the closeness I have because I can sense His grace to a higher degree.
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Recognizing God’s grace, His unconditional love, His undeserved favor, brings us spiritually closer to God. The more we seek to grasp God’s grace in our spirits and not just in our doctrine, the closer to God we will get. On the day of our death when we enter heaven without our bodies, we will carry with us that degree of closeness we have with God.
That closeness will grow in heaven as we continue to recognize God’s additional grace there. That is why we want to grow in awareness of and appreciation for His grace and its many aspects right now. It will increase our awareness and appreciation in heaven and give us the perceptive ability to expand that knowledge of God’s grace throughout eternity.
We parents feel close to all of our children because we love them. However, those children who recognize and appreciate our love and sacrifice for them have a closer relationship with us. We are close to all of our children, but each of the children differ in their closeness to us in proportion to their appreciation of what we have gracefully given them through our love.
Let’s grow in our ability to administer God’s grace to one another that we might have a closer relationship with our Father throughout forever.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Wonderful God Who is Most Gracious, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to more intensely and vividly sense Your grace in our lives and all around us. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we point out and pass on Your grace to others.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus by abundantly displaying God’s grace in our own lives. May we live as those who are aware of blessings of grace already received as well as more coming in the future. Remove from us any doom and gloom in our spirits, so that we can genuinely act like people very much blessed by You.
May our lives worship You more because we pay attention to the blessings of grace You have given us and respond to You with sincere and deep thankfulness. When with other Christians, help us to remind one another of Your unmerited favor in being rescued from sin and being heirs of God and heaven. Enable us through the Holy Spirit to worship You by reflecting Your graciousness, helping others to similarly pass on Your grace to others, and pointing out to others evidences of Your grace in daily life.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by being completely content with how You have blessed us. While we do not deserve Your love and unmerited favor, remind us constantly that in Christ we are worthy to receive grace from You. May we defeat the devil by not being disappointed in You or acting like we deserve Your grace because of our own goodness.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing to more completely see Your grace all around us and by pointing it out to others. This will be the life in heaven. We want to see Your grace in heaven because we have prepared to see it. And, we want to share it in heaven as we have learned to do so now.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
That closeness will grow in heaven as we continue to recognize God’s additional grace there. That is why we want to grow in awareness of and appreciation for His grace and its many aspects right now. It will increase our awareness and appreciation in heaven and give us the perceptive ability to expand that knowledge of God’s grace throughout eternity.
We parents feel close to all of our children because we love them. However, those children who recognize and appreciate our love and sacrifice for them have a closer relationship with us. We are close to all of our children, but each of the children differ in their closeness to us in proportion to their appreciation of what we have gracefully given them through our love.
Let’s grow in our ability to administer God’s grace to one another that we might have a closer relationship with our Father throughout forever.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Wonderful God Who is Most Gracious, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to more intensely and vividly sense Your grace in our lives and all around us. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we point out and pass on Your grace to others.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus by abundantly displaying God’s grace in our own lives. May we live as those who are aware of blessings of grace already received as well as more coming in the future. Remove from us any doom and gloom in our spirits, so that we can genuinely act like people very much blessed by You.
May our lives worship You more because we pay attention to the blessings of grace You have given us and respond to You with sincere and deep thankfulness. When with other Christians, help us to remind one another of Your unmerited favor in being rescued from sin and being heirs of God and heaven. Enable us through the Holy Spirit to worship You by reflecting Your graciousness, helping others to similarly pass on Your grace to others, and pointing out to others evidences of Your grace in daily life.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by being completely content with how You have blessed us. While we do not deserve Your love and unmerited favor, remind us constantly that in Christ we are worthy to receive grace from You. May we defeat the devil by not being disappointed in You or acting like we deserve Your grace because of our own goodness.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing to more completely see Your grace all around us and by pointing it out to others. This will be the life in heaven. We want to see Your grace in heaven because we have prepared to see it. And, we want to share it in heaven as we have learned to do so now.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.