by David Brenneman
As defined by many, God's grace is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".
As Biblically defined its God's unmerited favor poured out upon those who've come to Christ for salvation.
For more than quite a few people there seems to be a forgetting of the grace that was poured out on them in that they aren't extending it to others, and their disobedience in this has been disguised as bitterness towards others. A lack of looking at the world through Christ's understanding eyes, Christ's understanding heart.
What's supposed to happen in the lives of all Believers is that the grace of God is supposed to flow from Jesus to us then from us to the world.
We are too easily embittered towards people in the world and aren't trying hard enough to be understanding or forgiving.
People do have bad days. Both the believing and the unbelieving alike.
People are, again both groups, are prone to allow a bit or more than a bit of selfishness creep in where it shouldn't be when we deal with others.
We aren't aware that we're setting standards that aren't God's standards when it comes to our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as those in the world in which we live.
We do all this and neglect to remember that we are supposed to be representing Christ to the world. We are supposed to be living lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
We really ought to do more, do better, at getting this vital aspect of living life because my Dear Reader, who knows if that person who's before you is the last person who will be saved before Jesus returns?
What if our feelings are getting in the way of being the light of Jesus Christ that we are supposed to be?
Paul said "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." 1 Corinthians 9:19-24.
Jesus always presented grace to people. Sometimes it was received well other times people threw it back at Him but it never stopped Him from doing it.
Proclaiming what we will or won't do because of how we were treated...is going to cause us to withhold the grace we are commanded to give to all.
Jesus was obedient even to the point of death, death on a cross.
Grace still came from My Jesus to a thief on another cross who had in moments just before had been cussing Him out with the second thief on another cross.
We are also commanded to guard our hearts. This kind of situation is a very big reason why.
We won't be showing Christ to the world while we withhold His grace.
Consider your thoughts and actions. Consider whether you're more interested in personal justice rather than obeying as your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did regardless of His circumstances.
Consider whether or not you are being motivated by anything else that's causing you to justify your bitterness.
We live in a world where words get redefined at a breakneck pace.
For generations people both in and outside of the Church don't consider what they do, say or think, is exactly what the Bible says is idolatry. Yet that's what it is.
Holding a grudge, whether big or small, against people is still a root of bitterness.
The Bible is written for our instruction not for us to twist it to satisfy our way of thinking.
Bitterness is bitterness. No matter how the world wants to redefine it.
We are further warning in the Scriptures to never let any root of bitterness spring up within us.
We read directly from Jesus that if we don't forgive we won't be forgiven.
Ours in Christ is to take that grace we have been given and to give it to others just as we were once given it. To totally unworthy people just as we are unworthy to receive what we were given. Yet in Christ we are worthy because of the salvation we were given.
I do not think that all too many Believers truly look at others with the thought that the person in front of them just might be the last person who will be saved before Jesus returns.
This is what is meant by our hastening the return of Jesus Christ...our obedience in showing Christ to a lost world...that grace we were given...give it to others.
Show some grace and mercy to others as your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ did and daily does with...you.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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